Garment for positioning midfield transmitter relative to implanted receiver

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices and methods to facilitate wireless interaction between an implantable therapy delivery device and an external transmitter device are provided. In an example, the systems, devices, and methods discussed herein include or use a garment for receiving and positioning an external transmitter device proximal to an implanted device, and the external transmitter device includes a midfield device configured to provide one or more signals to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate a propagating and focused field in the tissue. In an example, the garment includes a receptacle configured to receive and retain the external transmitter device near a tissue interface, and the garment further includes a dielectric portion provided between the receptacle and the tissue interface. In an example, the dielectric portion has a relative permittivity that is approximately the same as the relative permittivity of air.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/123,230, filed on Sep. 6, 2018, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various wireless powering methods for implantable electronics are basedon nearfield coupling. These and other suggested methods suffer from anumber of disadvantages. For example, a power harvesting structure inthe implanted device is typically large, such as on the order of acentimeter or more. Transmission coils provided external to the body innearfield arrangements are also often bulky and inflexible. Among otherfactors, these can present challenges or difficulties with regard toincorporation of the external device into daily life. Furthermore, theintrinsic exponential decay of nearfield transmission limitsminiaturization of the implanted device and limits implantation tosuperficial depths (e.g., around 1 cm or less below a tissue interface).Some wireless powering methods are based on farfield coupling. However,the radiative nature of farfield coupling limits energy transferefficiency.

SUMMARY

Although considerable progress has been made in the realm of medicaldevice therapy, a need exists for therapy devices that providestimulation or other therapy to targeted locations within a body. A needfurther exists for efficient, wireless power and data communication withan implanted therapy delivery device and/or an implanted diagnostic(e.g., sensor) device. A need further exists for user-friendly,repeatable, and accurate placement of an external transmitter devicerelative to an implanted device.

In accordance with several embodiments, a garment can be provided forreceiving and positioning an external transmitter device proximal to animplanted device, the external transmitter device including a midfielddevice configured to provide one or more signals to manipulateevanescent fields outside of tissue to generate a propagating andfocused field in the tissue. In accordance with an embodiment, thegarment includes a first receptacle (pocket, coupling, receiving member,etc.) configured to receive and retain the external transmitter devicenear a tissue interface, wherein the external transmitter device isconfigured to provide an electromagnetic midfield signal to theimplanted device. The garment can further include or use a dielectricportion provided between the first receptacle and the tissue interface,wherein the dielectric portion has a relative permittivity that isapproximately the same as the relative permittivity of air.

In accordance with several embodiments, a system can be provided for usewith an implanted midfield receiver device, the system comprising anexternal midfield transmitter device with one or more structuresexcitable by a voltage or current source to manipulate evanescent fieldsoutside of tissue to generate a propagating and focused field in thetissue and thereby communicate power and/or data signals from theexternal midfield transmitter device to the implanted midfield receiverdevice. In accordance with an embodiment, the garment can include areceptacle configured to receive the external midfield transmitterdevice and position it near a tissue interface, and the garment caninclude a dielectric portion provided between the receptacle and thetissue interface.

In accordance with several embodiments, a method can be provided forcontrolling delivery of neural stimulation therapy using a system thatincludes an implanted midfield device and external midfield transmitterdevice, wherein the external midfield transmitter device includes one ormore structures excitable to manipulate evanescent fields outside oftissue to generate a propagating and focused field in the tissue andthereby communicate power and/or data signals to the implanted midfielddevice. In an example, the implanted midfield device includes one ormore electrodes for delivering an electrostimulation therapy to a neuraltarget, or for sensing physiologic information from a patient (or user),and the delivered therapy can use energy received from the externalmidfield transmitter device. In an example, the method can includepositioning the external midfield transmitter device at or near a tissueinterface and the implanted midfield device using a garment. In anexample, the method includes using energy received from the externalmidfield transmitter device to provide a stimulation therapy at or neara neural target in a pelvic region of a patient using the implantedmidfield device. In an example, the method further includes determining,using a control circuit, whether a voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring for the patient, and enhancing voiding efficiencyfor the patient, including inhibiting or ceasing the stimulation therapyprovided to the neural target when the voiding event is determined tobe, or is determined to be likely to be, imminent or occurring for thepatient. In an example, the stimulation therapy can be inhibited orceased when the garment, and therefore the external transmitter, isremoved from its regular or intended position when it is worn by thepatient.

In accordance with several embodiments, a system for covering or holdingan external device comprises a portion of a garment or wearableaccessory that includes a receptacle, such as one of a pocket and asleeve comprising one or more top or outer layers of compliant materialand one or more bottom or inner layers of compliant material. The bottomlayers of material are closer to a body surface or tissue interface of auser (or patient) than the top layers when the garment is worn by theuser. In an example, the bottom layers comprise one or more features orthrough-holes configured to provide electrical contact betweenelectrodes on the external device and a tissue surface of a user.

The bottom layers can include a first layer of fabric that is a soft,compliant material and a second layer of fabric that is one of a heatinsulating material and/or a water resistant material. The second layerof fabric is located further from the body of the user when the garmentis worn. The top layer can include a third layer of fabric thatcomprises a heat conducting material. In an example, the systemcomprises an external transmitter device (e.g., any of the externaldevices or midfield couplers described herein) that is located at leastpartially in the receptacle between the layers. The external device isconfigured to provide electromagnetic energy to an implanted device.

In an example, one or more top layers can include a fourth layer offabric further from the body of the user than the third layer when thegarment is worn, the fourth layer comprising an elastic band. Theelastic band can include a plurality of holes in at least a portion ofthe band. In some embodiments, the holes are advantageously taller thanthey are wide. However, the holes may have substantially the same heightand width in other embodiments or the holes may be wider than they aretall.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a garment or article ofclothing that includes the receptacle, wherein the receptacle issituated at a location above or near a target tissue location (e.g., anS3 foramen) of the body when the garment is worn by the user. Theexternal stimulator device may comprise location circuitry configured tocommunicate with an implanted device and provide an indication ofwhether the external transmitter device is properly located relative tothe implanted device.

In some embodiments, the external transmitter device comprises a firstattachment mechanism and the pocket or sleeve comprises a correspondingsecond attachment mechanism. The attachment mechanisms may be locatedsuch that when the attachment mechanisms are mated the externalstimulator device is properly located relative to (e.g., proximate ornear) a target implanted device.

This Summary is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of thepresent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive orexhaustive explanation of the invention or inventions discussed herein.The detailed description is included to provide further informationabout the present patent application

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic of an embodiment of asystem using wireless communication paths.

FIG. 2A illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a midfield source device.

FIG. 2B illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a portion of a system configured to receive a signal.

FIG. 3 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic view of an embodimentof a midfield antenna with multiple subwavelength structures.

FIG. 4 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of aphase-matching and/or amplitude-matching network for a midfield sourcedevice.

FIG. 5 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment ofcircuitry of an implantable device.

FIG. 6 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of asystem for selectively providing power and/or data communication tomultiple target devices.

FIG. 7 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a system that includes control hardware and anelectromagnetic transmission element on an integrated board structure.

FIG. 8 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a system that includes a faraday cage cover overcomponents of control circuitry.

FIG. 9A illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment a faraday cage.

FIG. 9B illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a cover of the faraday cage of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a base of the faraday cage of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the system of FIG. 8 from a back side of the board.

FIG. 11 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a top layer of the board of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the top layer of the board of FIG. 8 with a faraday cagesituated thereon.

FIG. 13 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a system without a faraday cage cover.

FIG. 14A illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of anembodiment of a system for locating an external source device relativeto an implanted device.

FIG. 14B illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of anembodiment of a system for locating an external source device relativeto an implanted device.

FIG. 15 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of a portion of ahuman body with a view of a lower rear portion of a skeletal system.

FIG. 16 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagramsimilar to that of FIG. 15 with a garment receptacle positioned overpotential implant sites of a neurostimulator.

FIG. 17 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof layers of a pocket.

FIG. 18A illustrates, by way of example, a method that includesenhancing a user voiding efficiency.

FIG. 18B illustrates, by way of example, a method that includesdetermining whether a user voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring based on a determined user void interval.

FIG. 18C illustrates, by way of example, a method that includesdetermining whether a user voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring based on a communication efficiencycharacteristic.

FIG. 18D illustrates, by way of example, a method that includesdetermining whether a user voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring based on position information about an externaldevice.

FIG. 19A illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of layers of a pocketassembly.

FIG. 19B illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of layers of a pocketassembly.

FIG. 20 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofthe embodiment of the layers of FIG. 19A with an external devicesituated by the layers.

FIG. 21 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the bottom layers of FIG. 19B with an external device anda top layer.

FIG. 22 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of bottom layers of a pocket with an external device, a toplayer, and an elastic band.

FIG. 23 illustrates, by way of example, a cross-section view diagram ofan embodiment of a system 2300 that includes the external device 1402situated in a sleeve

FIG. 24A illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofan embodiment of a system including a cushion material.

FIG. 24B illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofan embodiment of a system including a cushion material.

FIG. 25 illustrates, by way of example, a cross-section view diagram ofan embodiment of a system including a sleeve with an external devicesituated therein.

FIG. 26 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of an undergarment that includes a fastener.

FIG. 27 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system that includes multiple discrete external components.

FIG. 28 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system that includes a single external device in a wearablereceptacle.

FIG. 29 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system that includes multiple discrete external devices in awearable receptacle.

FIG. 30 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of asystem for selectively providing power and/or data communication tomultiple target devices using a remote RF source and a midfield device.

FIG. 31 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic of an embodiment ofthe external device with multiple tunable devices.

FIG. 32 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of asystem that includes multiple external midfield transceivers.

FIG. 33 illustrates, by way of example, a system with which one or moremethods discussed herein can be performed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Midfield powering technology can provide power to a deeply implantedelectrostimulation device from an external transmitter device or powersource located on or near a tissue surface, such as at an externalsurface of a user's skin. The user can be a clinical patient or otheruser. The midfield powering technology can have one or more advantagesover implantable pulse generators. For example, a pulse generator canhave one or more relatively large, implanted batteries and/or one ormore lead systems. Implantable midfield receiver devices, in contrast,can include relatively small battery cells that can be configured toreceive and store relatively small amounts of power. A midfield devicecan include one or more electrodes integrated in a unitary implantablepackage. Thus, in some examples, a midfield-powered device can provide asimpler implant procedure over other conventional devices, which canlead to a lower cost and a lower risk of infection or other implantcomplications. One or more of the advantages can include an amount ofpower transferred to the implanted device. The ability to focus theenergy from the external transmitter device can allow for an increase inan amount of power transferred to an implanted device.

An advantage of using midfield powering technology can include a mainbattery or power source being provided externally to the patient, andthus low power consumption and high efficiency circuitry requirements ofconventional battery-powered implantable devices can be relaxed. Anotheradvantage of using midfield powering technology can include an implanteddevice that can be physically smaller than a battery-powered device.Midfield powering technology can thus help enable better patienttolerance and comfort along with potentially lower costs to manufactureand/or to implant in patient tissue.

There is a current unmet need that includes accurately, repeatably, andchronically positioning an external midfield transmitter device relativeto the body in a manner that is comfortable and feasible for patients ordevice users. The unmet need can include accessories, devices, garments,and the like, that are configured to receive and retain a midfieldtransmitter in a location sufficiently near an implanted midfieldreceiver to wirelessly and efficiently transmit power or data to thereceiver. There is a further unmet need that includes providing varioustherapies and automatically inhibiting delivery of such therapies duringvarious specified bodily activities such as voiding (urinating ordefecating).

In one or more embodiments, multiple midfield receiver devices can beimplanted in patient tissue and can be configured to deliver a therapyand/or sense physiologic information about a patient and/or about thetherapy. The multiple implanted devices can be configured to communicatewith one or more external devices. In one or more embodiments, the oneor more external devices are configured to provide power and/or datasignals to the multiple implanted devices, such as concurrently or in atime-multiplexed (e.g., “round-robin”) fashion. The provided powerand/or data signals can be steered or directed by an external device totransfer the signals to an implant most efficiently. Although thepresent disclosure may refer to a power signal or data signalspecifically, such references are to be generally understood asoptionally including one or both of power and data signals.

Several embodiments described herein can be advantageous because theyinclude one, several, or all of the following benefits: (i) a systemconfigured to (a) communicate power and/or data signals from a midfieldcoupler or transmitter device to an implantable receiver device viamidfield radiofrequency (RF) signals, (b) generate and provide a therapysignal via one or more electrodes coupled to the implantable device, thetherapy signal optionally including an information component, andproducing a signal incident to providing the therapy signal, (c) receivea signal, based on the therapy signal, using electrodes coupled to themidfield coupler or transmitter device, and (d) at the midfield coupleror transmitter device or another device, decode and react to theinformation component from the received signal; (ii) a dynamicallyconfigurable, active midfield transceiver that is configured to provideRF signals to modulate an evanescent field at a tissue surface andthereby generate a propagating field within tissue, such as to transmitpower and/or data signals to an implanted target device; (iii) animplantable device including an antenna configured to receive a midfieldpower signal from the midfield transceiver and including a therapydelivery circuitry configured to provide signal pulses toelectrostimulation electrodes using a portion of the received midfieldpower signal, wherein the signal pulses include therapy pulses and datapulses, and the data pulses can be interleaved with or embedded in thetherapy pulses; (iv) an implantable device configured to encodeinformation, in a therapy signal, about the device itself, such asincluding information about the device's operating status, or about apreviously-provided, concurrent, or planned future therapy provided bythe device; (v) a midfield transceiver including electrodes that areconfigured to sense electrical signals at a tissue surface; and/or (vi)adjustable wireless signal sources and receivers that are configuredtogether to enable a communication loop or feedback loop.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of these benefits and others canbe realized using a system for manipulating an evanescent field at ornear an external tissue surface to transmit power and/or data wirelesslyto one or more target devices implanted in the tissue. In one or moreembodiments, one or more of these benefits can be realized using adevice or devices implanted in a body or capable of being implanted in abody and as described herein. In one or more embodiments, one or more ofthese benefits can be realized using a midfield powering and/orcommunication device (e.g., a transmitter device and/or a receiverdevice or a transceiver device).

A system can include a signal generator system adapted to providemultiple different sets of signals (e.g., RF signals). Each set caninclude two or more separate signals in some embodiments. The system canalso include a midfield transmitter including multiple excitation ports,the midfield transmitter coupled to the RF signal generator system, andthe midfield transmitter being adapted to transmit the multipledifferent sets of RF signals at respective different times via theexcitation ports. The excitation ports can be adapted to receiverespective ones of the separate signals from each set of RF signals.Each of the transmitted sets of RF signals can include a non-negligiblemagnetic field (H-field) component that is substantially parallel to theexternal tissue surface. In one or more embodiments, each set oftransmitted RF signals is adapted or selected to differently manipulatean evanescent field at or near the tissue surface to transmit a powerand/or data signal to one or more target devices implanted in the tissuevia a midfield signal instead of via inductive near-field coupling orradiative far-field transmission.

In one or more embodiments, one or more of the above-mentioned benefits,among others, can be realized, at least in part, using an implantabletherapy delivery device (e.g., that is adapted to provide neuralstimulation) that includes receiver circuitry including an antenna(e.g., an electric-field or magnetic field based antenna) configured toreceive a midfield power signal from an external source device, such aswhen the receiver circuitry is implanted within tissue. The implantabletherapy delivery device can include therapy delivery circuitry. Thetherapy delivery circuitry can be coupled to the receiver circuitry. Thetherapy delivery circuitry can be configured to provide signal pulses toone or more energy delivery members (e.g., electrostimulationelectrodes), which may be integrally coupled to a body of the therapydelivery device or positioned separately from (e.g., not located on) thebody of the therapy delivery device), such as by using a portion of thereceived midfield power signal from the external source device (e.g.,sometimes referred to herein as an external device, an external source,an external midfield device, a midfield transmitter device, a midfieldcoupler, a midfield powering device, a powering device, or the like,depending on the configuration and/or usage context of the device). Thesignal pulses can include one or more electrostimulation therapy pulsesand/or data pulses. In one or more embodiments, one or more of theabove-mentioned benefits, among others, can be realized, at least inpart, using an external transmitter and/or receiver (e.g., transceiver)device that includes an electrode pair configured to be disposed at anexternal tissue surface, and the electrode pair is configured to receivean electrical signal via the tissue. The electrical signal cancorrespond to an electrostimulation therapy delivered to the tissue bythe therapy delivery device. A demodulator circuitry can be coupled tothe electrode pair and can be configured to demodulate a portion of thereceived electrical signal, such as to recover a data signal originatedby the therapy delivery device.

In one or more embodiments that include using a midfield wirelesstransmitter device, tissue can act as a dielectric to tunnel energy.Coherent interference of propagating modes can confine a field at afocal plane to less than a corresponding vacuum wavelength, for example,with a spot size subject to a diffraction limit in a high-indexmaterial. In one or more embodiments, a receiver (e.g., implanted intissue) positioned at such a high energy density region, can be one ormore orders of magnitude smaller than a conventional near-fieldimplantable receiver, or can be implanted more deeply in tissue (e.g.,greater than 1 cm in depth). In one or more embodiments, a transmittersource described herein can be configured to provide electromagneticenergy to various target locations, including for example to one or moredeeply implanted devices. In an example, the energy can be provided to alocation with greater than about a few millimeters of positioningaccuracy. That is, a transmitted power or energy signal can be directedor focused to a target location that is within about one wavelength ofthe signal in tissue. Such energy focusing is substantially moreaccurate than the focusing available via traditional inductive means andis sufficient to provide adequate power to a receiver on a millimeterscale. In other wireless powering approaches using near-field coupling(inductive coupling and its resonant enhanced derivatives), evanescentcomponents outside tissue (e.g., near the source) remain evanescentinside tissue, which does not allow for effective depth penetration.Unlike near-field coupling, energy from a midfield source is primarilycarried in propagating modes and, as a result, an energy transport depthis limited by environmental losses rather than by intrinsic decay of thenear-field. Energy transfer implemented with these characteristics canbe at least two to three orders of magnitude more efficient thannear-field systems.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat voiding dysfunctions such as fecal or urinaryincontinence (e.g., overactive bladder), pudendal neuralgia, or otherdisorders such as by stimulating the tibial nerve or any branch of thetibial nerve, such as but not limited to the posterior tibial nerve, oneor more nerves or nerve branches originating from the sacral plexus,including but not limited to S1-S4, the tibial nerve, and/or thepudendal nerve. Urinary incontinence may be treated by stimulating oneor more of muscles of the pelvic floor, nerves innervating the musclesof the pelvic floor, internal urethral sphincter, external urethralsphincter, and the pudendal nerve or branches of the pudendal nerve. Inan example, an external midfield transmitter device is configured tocoordinate a chronic stimulation therapy provided by the implantedmidfield receiver device to a target region at or near the pudendalnerve, the genitofemoral nerve, or the sciatic nerve. In an example,overactive bladder can be treated using the systems and methodsdiscussed herein, such as by providing chronic pudendal nervestimulation, such as additionally or alternatively to sacralneuromodulation. Chronic pudendal nerve stimulation was previously notpossible, particularly over long periods of time. However, with themidfield techniques and devices discussed herein, long-term chronicstimulation is possible with minimal discomfort and minimalinconvenience to the patient or user.

Other pelvic areas can similarly be targeted for neural therapy to treatvarious disorders. For example, a midfield receiver andelectrostimulation device can be installed at the lumbrosacral plexus toprovide stimulation to neural targets at one or more of the sacralplexus, the genitofemoral nerve, or the sciatic nerve, or at branchesthereof.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat sleep apnea and/or snoring by stimulating oneor more of a nerve or nerve branches of the hypoglossal nerve, the baseof the tongue (muscle), phrenic nerve(s), intercostal nerve(s),accessory nerve(s), and cervical nerves C3-C6. Treating sleep apneaand/or snoring can include providing energy to an implant to sense adecrease, impairment, or cessation of breathing (such as by measuringoxygen saturation).

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat vaginal dryness, such as by stimulating one ormore of Bartholin gland(s), Skene's gland(s), and inner wall of vagina.One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat migraines or other headaches, such as bystimulating one or more of the occipital nerve, supraorbital nerve, C2cervical nerve, or branches thereof, and the frontal nerve, or branchesthereof. One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussedherein can be used to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder, hotflashes, and/or complex regional pain syndrome such as by stimulatingone or more of the stellate ganglion and the C4-C7 of the sympatheticchain.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat neuralgia (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia), suchas by stimulating one or more of the sphenopalatine ganglion nerveblock, the trigeminal nerve, or branches of the trigeminal nerve. One ormore of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed herein can beused to help treat dry mouth (e.g., caused by side effects frommedications, chemotherapy or radiation therapy cancer treatments,Sjogren's disease, or by other cause of dry mouth), such as bystimulating one or more of Parotid glands, submandibular glands,sublingual glands, submucosa of the oral mucosa in the oral cavitywithin the tissue of the buccal, labial, and/or lingual mucosa, the softpalate, the lateral parts of the hard palate, and/or the floor of themouth and/or between muscle fibers of the tongue, Von Ebner glands,glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), including branches of CN IX, includingotic ganglion, a facial nerve (CN VII), including branches of CN VII,such as the submandibular ganglion, and branches of T1-T3, such as thesuperior cervical ganglion.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat a transected nerve, such as by sensingelectrical output from the proximal portion of a transected nerve anddelivering electrical input into the distal portion of a transectednerve, and/or sensing electrical output from the distal portion of atransected nerve and delivering electrical input into the proximalportion of a transected nerve. One or more of the systems, apparatuses,and methods discussed herein can be used to help treat cerebral palsy,such as by stimulating one or more muscles or one or more nervesinnervation one or more muscles affected in a patient with cerebralpalsy. One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussedherein can be used to help treat erectile dysfunction, such as bystimulating one or more of pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-S4) or anybranches thereof, the pudendal nerve, cavernous nerve(s), and inferiorhypogastric plexus.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat menstrual pain, such as by stimulating one ormore of the uterus and the vagina. One or more of the systems,apparatuses, and methods discussed herein can be used as an intrauterinedevice, such as by sensing one or more PH and blood flow or deliveringcurrent or drugs to aid in contraception, fertility, bleeding, or pain.One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to incite human arousal, such as by stimulating femalegenitalia, including external and internal stimulation, includingstimulating a clitoris or other sensory active female parts, or bystimulating male genitalia.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat hypertension, such as by stimulating one ormore of a carotid sinus, left or right cervical vagus nerve, or a branchof the vagus nerve. One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methodsdiscussed herein can be used to help treat paroxysmal supraventriculartachycardia, such as by stimulating one or more of trigeminal nerve orbranches thereof, anterior ethmoidal nerve, and the vagus nerve. One ormore of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed herein can beused to help treat vocal cord dysfunction, such as by sensing theactivity of a vocal cord and the opposite vocal cord or just stimulatingone or more of the vocal cords by stimulating nerves innervating thevocal cord, the left and/or Right recurrent laryngeal nerve, and thevagus nerve.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help repair tissue, such as by stimulating tissue to doone or more of enhancing microcirculation and protein synthesis to healwounds and restoring integrity of connective and/or dermal tissues. Oneor more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed herein can beused to help asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as byone or more of stimulating the vagus nerve or a branch thereof, blockingthe release of norepinephrine and/or acetylcholine and/or interferingwith receptors for norepinephrine and/or acetylcholine.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat cancer, such as by stimulating, to modulateone or more nerves near or in a tumor, such as to decrease thesympathetic innervation, such as epinephrine/NE release, and/orparasympathetic innervation, such as Ach. One or more of the systems,apparatuses, and methods discussed herein can be used to help treatdiabetes, such as by powering a sensor inside the human body thatdetects parameters of diabetes, such as a glucose level or ketone leveland using such sensor data to adjust delivery of exogenous insulin froman insulin pump. One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methodsdiscussed herein can be used to help treat diabetes, such as by poweringa sensor inside the human body that detects parameters of diabetes, suchas a glucose level or ketone level, and using a midfield coupler tostimulate the release of insulin from islet beta cells.

One or more of the systems, apparatuses, and methods discussed hereincan be used to help treat neurological conditions, disorders or diseases(such as Parkinson's disease (e.g., by stimulating an internus ornucleus of the brain), Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease,dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, epilepsy (e.g., by stimulating aleft cervical vagus nerve or a trigeminal nerve), post-traumatic stressdisorder (PTSD) (e.g., by stimulating a left cervical vagus nerve), oressential tremor, such as by stimulating a thalamus), neuralgia,depression, dystonia (e.g., by stimulating an internus or nucleus of thebrain), phantom limb (e.g., by stimulating an amputated nerve, such anending of an amputated nerve), dry eyes (e.g., by stimulating a lacrimalgland), arrhythmia (e.g., by stimulating the heart), a gastrointestinaldisorder, such as obesity, gastroesophageal reflux, and/orgastroparesis, such as by stimulating a C1-C2 occipital nerve or deepbrain stimulation (DBS) of the hypothalamus, an esophagus, a muscle nearsphincter leading to the stomach, and/or a lower stomach, and/or stroke(e.g., by subdural stimulation of a motor cortex). Using one or moreembodiments discussed herein, stimulation can be provided continuously,intermittently, on demand (e.g., as demanded by a physician, patient, orother user), or periodically.

Electrostimulation provided to or at neural targets in accordance withthe teachings herein can be timed in various ways. For example,electrostimulation can be delivered continuously (e.g., chronically) orintermittently. In some examples, electrostimulation is delivered by animplanted device only when an external or source midfield device is inwireless communication with the implanted device. In other words, theimplanted device stops or halts therapy when the external or sourcedevice is out of range. In an example, an electrostimulation therapy canbe halted during user voiding (e.g., urination or defecation) toincrease voiding efficiency and improve user comfort. In some examples,an electrostimulation therapy can be timed to be delivered only withinabout a half hour of user voiding. Such therapy timing can help topreserve device battery life and can help to avoid or delay an onset ofphysiologic resistance to a particular therapy. Such timing can bedetermined by a device learning algorithm, a user input, informationfrom invasive and/or non-invasive sensors, or other means.

In providing the stimulation, an implantable receiver device can besituated up to about five centimeters or more below the surface of theskin. A midfield powering device is capable of delivering power to thosedepths in tissue. In one or more embodiments, an implantable device canbe situated between about 2 centimeters and 4 centimeters, about 3centimeters, between about 1 centimeter and five centimeters, less than1 centimeter, about two centimeters, or other distance below the surfaceof the skin. The depth of implantation can depend on the use of theimplanted device. For example, to treat depression, hypertension,epilepsy, and/or PTSD the implantable device can situated between about2 centimeters and about four centimeters below the surface of the skin.In another example, to treat sleep apnea, arrhythmia (e.g.,bradycardia), obesity, gastroesophageal reflux, and/or gastroparesis theimplantable device can be situated at greater than about 3 centimetersbelow the surface of the skin. In yet another example, to treatParkinson's, essential tremors, and/or dystonia the implantable devicecan be situated between about 1 centimeter and about 5 centimeters belowthe surface of the skin. Yet other examples include situating theimplantable device between about 1 centimeter and about 2 centimetersbelow the surface of the skin, such as to treat fibromyalgia, stroke,and/or migraine, at about 2 centimeters to treat asthma, and at aboutone centimeter or less to treat dry eyes.

Although many embodiments included herein describe devices or methodsfor providing stimulation (e.g., electrostimulation), the embodimentsmay be adapted to provide other forms of modulation (e.g., denervation)in addition to or instead of stimulation. In addition, although manyembodiments included herein refer to the use of electrodes to delivertherapy, other energy delivery members (e.g., ultrasound transducers orother ultrasound energy delivery members) or other therapeutic membersor substances (e.g., fluid delivery devices or members to deliverchemicals, drugs, cryogenic fluid, hot fluid or steam, or other fluids)may be used or delivered in other embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic of an embodiment of asystem 100 using wireless communication paths. The system 100 includesan example of an external source 102, such as a midfield transmittersource, sometimes referred to as a midfield coupler or externaltransmitter device, located at or above an interface 105 between air 104and a higher-index material 106, such as body tissue. In an example, adielectric portion can be provided to occupy all or a portion of theregion indicated to be air 104 in the example of FIG. 1. The externalsource 102 can produce a source current (e.g., an in-plane sourcecurrent). The source current (e.g., in-plane source current) cangenerate an electric field and a magnetic field. The magnetic field caninclude a non-negligible component that is parallel to the surface ofthe source 102 and/or to a surface of the higher-index material 106(e.g., a surface of the higher-index material 106 that faces theexternal source 102). In accordance with several embodiments, theexternal source 102 may comprise structural features and functionsdescribed in connection with the midfield couplers and external sourcesor transmitters included in WIPO Publication No. WO/2015/179225published on Nov. 26, 2015 and titled “MIDFIELD COUPLER”, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, or the external source102 may comprise structural features and functions described inconnection with the midfield couplers and external sources ortransmitters included in PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/016051, filed onJan. 30, 2018, and titled “MIDFIELD TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER SYSTEMS”,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The external source 102 can include at least a pair of outwardly facingelectrodes 121 and 122. The electrodes 121 and 122 can be configured tocontact a tissue surface, for example, at the interface 105. In one ormore embodiments, the external source 102 is configured for use with asleeve, pocket, or other garment or accessory that maintains theexternal source 102 adjacent to the higher-index material 106, and thatoptionally maintains the electrodes 121 and 122 in physical contact witha tissue surface. In one or more embodiments, the sleeve, pocket, orother garment or accessory can include or use a conductive fiber orfabric, and the electrodes 121 and 122 can be in physical contact withthe tissue surface via the conductive fiber or fabric. Sleeves, pockets,or other garments or accessories suitable for use with the externalsource 102 are described further herein.

In one or more embodiments, more than two outwardly facing electrodescan be used and processor circuitry on-board or auxiliary to the source102 can be configured to select an optimal pair or group of electrodesto use to sense farfield signal information (e.g., signal informationcorresponding to a delivered therapy signal or to a nearfield signal).In such embodiments, the electrodes can operate as antennas. In one ormore embodiments, the source 102 includes three outwardly facingelectrodes arranged as a triangle, or four outwardly facing electrodesarranged as a rectangle, and any two or more of the electrodes can beselected for sensing and/or can be electrically grouped or coupledtogether for sensing or diagnostics. In one or more embodiments, theprocessor circuitry can be configured to test multiple differentelectrode combination selections to identify an optimal configurationfor sensing a farfield signal (an example of the processor circuitry ispresented in FIG. 2A, among others).

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an implantable device 110, such ascan include a multi-polar therapy delivery device configured to beimplanted in the higher-index material 106. In one or more embodiments,the implantable device 110 includes all or a portion of the circuitry500 from FIG. 5, discussed below. In one or more embodiments, theimplantable device 110 is implanted in tissue below the tissue-airinterface 105. In FIG. 1, the implantable device 110 includes anelongate body and multiple electrodes E0, E1, E2, and E3 that areaxially spaced apart along a portion of the elongate body. Theimplantable device 110 includes receiver and/or transmitter circuitry(not shown in FIG. 1, see e.g., FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 4, among others) thatcan enable communication between the implantable device 110 and theexternal source 102.

The various electrodes E0-E3 can be configured to deliverelectrostimulation therapy to patient tissue, such as at or near aneural or muscle target. In one or more embodiments, at least oneelectrode can be selected for use as an anode and at least one otherelectrode can be selected for use as a cathode to define anelectrostimulation vector. In one or more embodiments, electrode E1 isselected for use as an anode and electrode E2 is selected for use as acathode. Together, the E1-E2 combination defines an electrostimulationvector V12. Various vectors can be configured independently to provide aneural electrostimulation therapy to the same or different tissuetarget, such as concurrently or at different times.

In one or more embodiments, the source 102 includes an antenna (see,e.g., FIG. 3) and the implantable device 110 includes an antenna 108(e.g., an electric field-based or magnetic field-based antenna). Theantennas can be configured (e.g., in length, width, shape, material,etc.) to transmit and receive signals at substantially the samefrequency. The implantable device 110 can be configured to transmitpower and/or data signals through the antenna 108 to the external source102 and can receive power and/or data signals transmitted by theexternal source 102. The external source 102 and implantable device 110can be used for transmission and/or reception of RF signals. Atransmit/receive (T/R) switch can be used to switch each RF port of theexternal source 102 from a transmit (transmit data or power) mode to areceive (receive data) mode. A T/R switch can similarly be used toswitch the implantable device 110 between transmit and receive modes.

In one or more embodiments, a receive terminal on the external source102 can be connected to one or more components that detect a phaseand/or amplitude of a received signal from the implantable device 110.The phase and amplitude information can be used to program a phase ofthe transmit signal, such as to be substantially the same relative phaseas a signal received from the implantable device 110. To help achievethis, the external source 102 can include or use a phase-matching and/oramplitude-matching network, such as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4.The phase-matching and/or amplitude matching network can be configuredfor use with a midfield antenna that includes multiple ports, such asshown in the embodiment of FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in one or more embodiments, the implantabledevice 110 can be configured to receive a midfield signal 131 from theexternal source 102. The midfield signal 131 can include power and/ordata signal components. In some embodiments, a power signal componentcan include one or more data components embedded therein. In one or moreembodiments, the midfield signal 131 includes configuration data for useby the implantable device 110. The configuration data can define, amongother things, therapy signal parameters, such as a therapy signalfrequency, pulse width, amplitude, or other signal waveform parameters.In one or more embodiments, the implantable device 110 can be configuredto deliver an electrostimulation therapy to a therapy target 190, suchas can include a neural target (e.g., a nerve), a muscle target, orother tissue target. An electrostimulation therapy delivered to thetherapy target 190 can be provided using a portion of a power signalreceived from the external source 102. Examples of the therapy target190 can include nerve tissue or neural targets, for example includingnerve tissue or neural targets at or near cervical, thoracic, lumbar, orsacral regions of the spine, brain tissue, muscle tissue, abnormaltissue (e.g., tumor or cancerous tissue), targets corresponding tosympathetic or parasympathetic nerve systems, targets at or nearperipheral nerve bundles or fibers, at or near other targets selected totreat incontinence, urinary urge, overactive bladder, fecalincontinence, constipation, pain, neuralgia, pelvic pain, movementdisorders or other diseases or disorders, deep brain stimulation (DBS)therapy targets or any other condition, disease or disorder (such asthose other conditions, diseases, or disorders identified herein).

Delivering the electrostimulation therapy can include using a portion ofa power signal received via the midfield signal 131, and providing acurrent signal to an electrode or an electrode pair (e.g., two or moreof E0-E3), coupled to the implantable device 110, to stimulate thetherapy target 190. As a result of the current signal provided to theelectrode(s), a nearfield signal 132 can be generated. An electricpotential difference resulting from the nearfield signal 132 can bedetected remotely from the therapy delivery location. Various factorscan influence where and whether the potential difference can bedetected, including, among other things, characteristics of the therapysignal, a type or arrangement of the therapy delivery electrodes, andcharacteristics of any surrounding biologic tissue. Such a remotelydetected electric potential difference can be considered a farfieldsignal 133. The farfield signal 133 can represent an attenuated portionof the nearfield signal 132. That is, the nearfield signal 132 and thefarfield signal 133 can originate from the same signal or field, such aswith the nearfield signal 132 considered to be associated with a regionat or near the implantable device 110 and the therapy target 190, andwith the farfield signal 133 considered to be associated with otherregions more distal from the implantable device 110 and the therapytarget 190. In one or more embodiments, information about theimplantable device 110, or about a previously-provided or future plannedtherapy provided by the implantable device 110, can be encoded in atherapy signal and detected and decoded by the external source 102 byway of the farfield signal 133.

In one or more embodiments, the device 110 can be configured to providea series of electrostimulation pulses to a tissue target (e.g., neuraltarget). For example, the device 110 can provide multipleelectrostimulation pulses separated in time, such as using the same ordifferent electrostimulation vectors, to provide a therapy. In one ormore embodiments, a therapy comprising multiple signals can be providedto multiple different vectors in parallel, or can be provided insequence such as to provide a series or sequence of electrostimulationpulses to the same neural target. Thus, even if one vector is moreoptimal than the others for eliciting a patient response, the therapy asa whole can be more effective than stimulating only the known-optimalvector because (1) the target may experience a rest period duringperiods of non-stimulation, and/or (2) stimulating the areas nearbyand/or adjacent to the optimal target can elicit some patient benefit.

In an example, the source is held in place near a treatment target withan underwear garment, discussed herein, such as to treat hypertonicityof the bladder, or overactive bladder. When the patient removes theunderwear garment, such as during voiding, power or data communicationfrom the source 102 to the device 110 can be interrupted or inhibitedand, as a result, the device 110 can be signaled to halt therapydelivery, which in turn can help the patient excrete more efficiently.In other words, when therapy is stopped, a patient can urinate ordefecate more efficiently, and therefore more comfortably, than whentherapy is delivered concurrently with patient voiding. In an example,therapy delivery can resume, such as automatically, when the source 102is replaced (e.g., with the underwear garment) near the device 110 andsource-device communication is reestablished.

The system 100 can include a sensor 107 at or near the interface 105between air 104 and the higher-index material 106. The sensor 107 caninclude, among other things, one or more electrodes, an optical sensor,an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a force sensor, a pressuresensor, or a surface electromyography (EMG) device. The sensor 107 maycomprise multiple sensors (e.g., two, three, four or more than foursensors). Depending on the type of sensor(s) used, the sensor 107 can beconfigured to monitor electrical, muscle, or other activity near thedevice 110 and/or near the source 102. For example, the sensor 107 canbe configured to monitor muscle activity at a tissue surface. If muscleactivity greater than a specified threshold activity level is detected,then a power level of the source 102 and/or of the device 110 can beadjusted. In one or more embodiments, the sensor 107 can be coupled toor integrated with the source 102, and in other examples, the sensor 107can be separate from, and in data communication with (e.g., using awired or wireless electrical coupling or connection), the source 102and/or the device 110.

The system 100 can include a farfield sensor device 130 that can beseparate from, or communicatively coupled with, one or more of thesource 102 and the sensor 107. The farfield sensor device 130 caninclude two or more electrodes and can be configured to sense a farfieldsignal, such as the farfield signal 133 corresponding to a therapydelivered by the device 110. The farfield sensor device 130 can includeat least one pair of outwardly facing electrodes 123 and 124 configuredto contact a tissue surface, for example, at the interface 105. In oneor more embodiments, three or more electrodes can be used, and processorcircuitry on-board or auxiliary to the farfield sensor device 130 canselect various combinations of two or more of the electrodes for use insensing the farfield signal 133. In one or more embodiments, thefarfield sensor device 130 can be configured for use with a sleeve,pocket, or other garment or accessory that maintains the farfield sensordevice 130 adjacent to the higher-index material 106, and thatoptionally maintains the electrodes 123 and 124 in physical contact witha tissue surface. In one or more embodiments, the sleeve, pocket, orother garment or accessory can include or use a conductive fiber orfabric, and the electrodes 123 and 124 can be in physical contact withthe tissue surface via the conductive fiber or fabric. Sleeves, pockets,or other garments or accessories suitable for use with the farfieldsensor device 130 are described elsewhere herein. An example of at leasta portion of a farfield sensor device 130 is further described herein inconnection with FIG. 2B.

In one or more embodiments, the external source 102 provides a midfieldsignal 131 including power and/or data signals to the implantable device110. The midfield signal 131 includes a signal (e.g., an RF signal)having various or adjustable amplitude, frequency, phase, and/or othersignal characteristics. The implantable device 110 can include anantenna, such as described below, that can receive the midfield signal131 and, based on characteristics of receiver circuitry in theimplantable device 110, can modulate the received signal at the antennato thereby generate a backscatter signal. In one or more embodiments,the implantable device 110 can encode information in the backscattersignal 112, such as information about a characteristic of theimplantable device 110 itself, about a received portion of the midfieldsignal 131, about a therapy provided by the implantable device 110,and/or other information. The backscatter signal 112 can be received byan antenna at the external source 102 and/or the farfield sensor device130, or can be received by another device. In one or more embodiments, abiological signal can be sensed by a sensor of the implantable device110, such as a glucose sensor, an electropotential (e.g., anelectromyography sensor, electrocardiograph (ECG) sensor, resistance, orother electrical sensor), a light sensor, a temperature, a pressuresensor, an oxygen sensor, a motion sensor, or the like. A signalrepresentative of the detected biological signal can be modulated ontothe backscatter 112. In an example, an external sensor 107 can include amonitor device, such as a glucose, temperature, ECG, EMG, oxygen, orother monitor, such as to receive, demodulate, interpret, and/or storedata modulated onto the backscatter signal.

In one or more embodiments, the external source 102 and/or theimplantable device 110 can include an optical transceiver configured tofacilitate communication between the external source 102 and theimplantable device 110. The external source 102 can include a lightsource, such as a photo laser diode or LED, or can include a photodetector, or can include both of a light source and a photo detector.The implantable device 110 can include a light source, such as a photolaser diode or LED, or can include a photo detector, or can include bothof a light source and a photo detector. In an embodiment, the externalsource 102 and/or implantable device 110 can include a window, such asmade of quartz, glass, or other translucent material, adjacent to itslight source or photo detector. Garments or other accessories forpositioning the source 102 adjacent to a tissue interface can include awindow, such as made of a translucent material, a lower-density fabric,or including a through-hole. When the source 102 is placed in thegarment, the garment window can be positioned at the location of theoptical transceiver to facilitate light-based communication between thesource 102 and implantable device 110. In an example, the garmentincludes or holds a dielectric insert between at least a portion of thesource 102 and the tissue interface. An optical transceiver in thesource 102 can be provided in a garment window that is adjacent to thedielectric, or a portion of the dielectric can be made from atranslucent or sufficiently low-density material to enable lighttransmission therethrough.

In an embodiment, optical communications can be separate from orsupplemental to an electromagnetic coupling between the external source102 and the implantable device 110. Optical communication can beprovided using light pulses modulated according to various protocols,such as using pulse position modulation (PPM). In an embodiment, a lightsource and/or photo detector on-board the implantable device 110 can bepowered by a power signal received at least in part via midfieldcoupling with the external source 102.

In an embodiment, a light source at the external source 102 can send acommunication signal through skin, into subcutaneous tissue, and throughan optical window (e.g., quartz window) in the implantable device 110.The communication signal can be received at a photo detector on-boardthe implantable device 110. Various measurement information, therapyinformation, or other information from or about the implantable devicecan be encoded and transmitted from the implantable device 110 using alight source provided at the implantable device 110. The light signalemitted from the implantable device 110 can travel through the sameoptical window, subcutaneous tissue, and skin tissue, and can bereceived at photo detector on-board the external source 102. In anexample, the light sources and/or photo detectors can be configured toemit and/or receive, respectively, electromagnetic waves in the visibleor infrared ranges, such as in a range of about 670-910 nm wavelength(e.g., 670 nm-800 nm, 700 nm-760 nm, 670 nm-870 nm, 740 nm-850 nm, 800nm-910 nm, overlapping ranges thereof, or any value within the recitedranges).

In one or more embodiments, multiple devices can be implanted in patienttissue and can be configured to deliver a therapy and/or sensephysiologic information about a patient. The multiple implanted devicescan be configured to communicate with one or more external devices. Inone or more embodiments, the one or more external devices are configuredto provide power and/or data signals to the multiple implanted devices,such as concurrently or in a time-multiplexed (e.g., “round-robin”)fashion. The provided power and/or data signals can be steered ordirected by an external device to efficiently transfer the signals to animplantable device. Although the present disclosure may refer to a powersignal or data signal specifically, such references are to be generallyunderstood as optionally including one or both of power and datasignals. Such embodiments including multiple different implantedreceiver devices and/or multiple different external devices in powerand/or data communication are further discussed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/770,032, filed on Apr. 20, 2018, and titled“DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR STIMULATION THERAPY”, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Several embodiments described herein are particularly advantageousbecause they include one, several, or all of the following benefits: (i)a dynamically configurable, active midfield transceiver that isconfigured to provide RF signals to modulate an evanescent field at atissue surface and thereby generate a propagating field within tissue,such as to transmit power and/or a data signal to an implanted targetdevice; (ii) a dynamically configurable, substantially passive midfieldtransceiver or lens that is configured to receive remote RF signals andin response provide RF signals to modulate an evanescent field at atissue surface and thereby generate a propagating field within tissue,such as to transmit power and/or a data signal to an implanted targetdevice; (iii) a tunable device for changing one or more RF signalreceipt or transmission characteristics: (iv) feedback circuitry forupdating or adjusting one or more signal receipt or transmissioncharacteristics based on previous or current signal transmissionactivity; (v) adjustable midfield and far-field RF signal sources thatcan change a power transmit level based on information from one or moreother midfield devices or implanted devices; (vi) providing power and/ordata signals to multiple target devices using a common source device,such as concurrently or at different time intervals; (vii) sensingbackscatter signal information to determine a quality of a signaltransmission to a target device implanted in tissue; (viii) providingpower and/or data signals to one target device using multiple differentsource devices; (ix) a wearable garment or accessory that can facilitatechronic placement of an external midfield transceiver adjacent to atissue interface and near an implanted midfield device; (x) a dielectricinsert, having a same or similar relative permittivity as air,configured to augment a wireless coupling between an external midfieldtransceiver and an implanted midfield device; (xi) a garment oraccessory with a verification device or key that can enable use of aparticular one or type of approved external midfield transceiver that isconfigured for use with a corresponding implanted midfield device;and/or (xii) circuitry, in one or both of an external midfieldtransceiver and implanted midfield device, configured to enhance patientvoiding efficiency by inhibiting delivery of patient therapy when apatient voiding event is imminent or occurring.

In one or more embodiments, the implantable device 110 can include adigital controller 548, an amplifier 555, and/or stimulation drivercircuitry 556, among other components of circuitry 500, such as cancomprise portions of a state machine device. See FIG. 5 for the digitalcontroller 548, amplifier 555, and/or the stimulation driver circuitry556. The state machine device can be configured to wirelessly receivepower and data signals via one or more pad(s) 536 and, in response,release or provide an electrostimulation signal via one or more outputs534. In one or more embodiments, such a state machine device needs notretain information about available electrostimulation settings orvectors, and instead the state machine device carries out or provideselectrostimulation events substantially immediately after, and inresponse to, receipt of instructions from the wireless transmitter orsource 102.

For example, the state machine device can be configured to receive aninstruction to deliver a neural electrostimulation therapy signal, suchas at a specified time or having some specified signal characteristic(e.g., amplitude, duration, etc.), and the state machine device canrespond by initiating or delivering the therapy signal. At a subsequenttime, the device can receive a subsequent instruction to terminate thetherapy, to change a signal characteristic, or to perform some othertask. Thus, the device can optionally be configured to be substantiallypassive, or responsive to contemporaneously-received instructions. In anexample, removing an external transmitter device from an optimizedtransmission location can compromise signal transmission efficiency toan implanted device. A weakly-received signal, or a lack of signalreceived at the implantable device 110, can cause the device or statemachine to inhibit or terminate a therapy.

Distances or spacing between electrodes of an implantable device 110 canbe changed to affect how widely a stimulation signal field is dispersedrelative to a target. For example, an electrostimulation systemcomprising the implantable device 110 can be configured to use narrowlyspaced electrodes when a target is nearby and to use more widely spacedelectrodes when the target is further away or diffused over a largerarea.

In accordance with several embodiments, a method of providing a widearea stimulation therapy using one or more instances of the implantabledevice 110 is provided. The method may comprise wirelessly receiving apower signal at a radio circuitry of an at least partially implantablestimulation device, the power signal generated by a midfield poweringdevice, and, using a therapy delivery circuitry that is coupled to theradio circuitry and to multiple electrodes of the stimulation device,providing the wide area stimulation therapy signal to a patient using atleast a portion of the wirelessly received power signal. The implantablestimulation device may include at least two first electrodes includingat least one anode and at least one cathode on, or at least partiallyin, a distal portion of the stimulation device and at least one secondelectrode on, or at least partially in, a proximal portion of thestimulation device. In such an embodiment, providing the far fieldstimulation therapy signal may comprise switching, using the therapydelivery circuitry, one of the first electrodes off such that a farfield electric field is generated between at least one of the firstelectrodes and the at least one second electrode. The method may furtherinclude switching on, using the therapy delivery circuitry, the firstelectrode that was switched off and switching off the at least onesecond electrode, and providing a localized stimulation therapy to thepatient using at least a portion of the wirelessly received power, thelocalized stimulation therapy being generated between at least two ofthe first electrodes.

In accordance with several embodiments, a system comprises a midfieldpowering device and two implantable stimulation devices (e.g., twodiscrete instances of the implantable device 110) wirelessly coupled tothe midfield powering device. For example, a first and secondstimulation device each comprise or consist essentially of an antennahousing including an antenna situated therein to receive electricsignals from the midfield powering device, a circuitry housing includingtherapy generation circuitry, and a plurality of electrodes electricallycoupled to the therapy generation circuitry. The first and secondstimulation devices may be arranged and configured to produce a widearea stimulation therapy between at least one electrode of theelectrodes of the first stimulation device and at least one electrode ofthe electrodes of the second stimulation device. In someimplementations, a distance between directly adjacent electrodes of theelectrodes is less than ten millimeters (e.g., between eight and tenmillimeters, between six and ten millimeters, between six and eightmillimeters, between five and nine millimeters, between five and sevenmillimeters, between four and eight millimeters, between two and sixmillimeters, between one and five millimeters, overlapping rangesthereof, or any value within the recited ranges). A conductive wire maybe electrically connected between an electrode of the electrodes of thefirst stimulation device and an electrode of the electrodes of thesecond stimulation device. In some embodiments, respective electrodes ofthe first stimulation device are configured as an anode and a cathodeand respective electrodes of the second stimulation device areconfigured as a cathode and an anode and the therapy generationcircuitry provides a localized stimulation therapy simultaneously withthe wide area stimulation therapy. The electrodes in each of thestimulation devices may include a first electrode in a proximal portionof the stimulation device and a second electrode in a distal portion ofthe stimulation device, the proximal portion opposite the distalportion. The circuitry housing and the antenna housing may be situatedbetween the first and second electrode or the circuitry housing and theantenna housing may be situated in a proximal portion of the stimulationdevice and the first and second electrode may be situated in an oppositedistal portion of the stimulation device.

FIG. 2A illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of andembodiment of a midfield source device, such as the external source 102.The external source 102 can include various components, circuitry, orfunctional elements that are in data communication with one another. Inthe example of FIG. 2A, the external source 102 includes components,such as processor circuitry 210, one or more sensing electrodes 220(e.g., including the electrodes 121 and 122), a demodulator circuitry230, a phase-matching or amplitude-matching network 400, a midfieldantenna 300, and/or one or more feedback devices, such as can include oruse an audio speaker 251, a display interface 252, and/or a hapticfeedback device 253. The midfield antenna 300 is further described belowin the embodiment of FIG. 3, and the network 400 is further describedbelow in the embodiment of FIG. 4. The processor circuitry 210 can beconfigured to coordinate the various functions and activities of thecomponents, circuitry, and/or functional elements of the external source102.

The midfield antenna 300 can be configured to provide a midfieldexcitation signal, such as can include RF signals having anon-negligible H-field component that is substantially parallel to anexternal tissue surface. In one or more embodiments, the RF signals canbe adapted or selected to manipulate an evanescent field at or near atissue surface, such as to transmit a power and/or data signal torespective different target devices (e.g., the implantable device 110)implanted in tissue. The midfield antenna 300 can be further configuredto receive backscatter or other wireless signal information that can bedemodulated by the demodulator circuitry 230. The demodulated signalscan be interpreted by the processor circuitry 210. The midfield antenna300 can include a dipole antenna, a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a slotor strip antenna, or other antenna. The antenna 300 can be shaped andsized to receive signals in a range of between about 400 MHz and about 4GHz (e.g., between 400 MHz and 1 GHz, between 400 MHz and 3 GHz, between500 MHz and 2 GHz, between 1 GHz and 3 GHz, between 500 MHz and 1.5 GHz,between 1 GHz and 2 GHz, between 2 GHz and 3 GHz, overlapping rangesthereof, or any value within the recited ranges). For embodimentsincorporating a dipole antenna, the midfield antenna 300 may comprise astraight dipole with two substantially straight conductors, a foldeddipole, a short dipole, a cage dipole, a bow-tie dipole or batwingdipole.

The demodulator circuitry 230 can be coupled to the sensing electrodes220. In one or more embodiments, the sensing electrodes 220 can beconfigured to receive the farfield signal 133, such as based on atherapy provided by the implantable device 110, such as can be deliveredto the therapy target 190. The therapy can include an embedded orintermittent data signal component that can be extracted from thefarfield signal 133 by the demodulator circuitry 230. For example, thedata signal component can include an amplitude-modulated orphase-modulated signal component that can be discerned from backgroundnoise or other signals and processed by the demodulator circuitry 230 toyield an information signal that can be interpreted by the processorcircuitry 210. Based on the content of the information signal, theprocessor circuitry 210 can instruct one of the feedback devices toalert a patient, caregiver, or other system or individual. For example,in response to the information signal indicating successful delivery ofa specified therapy, the processor circuitry 210 can instruct the audiospeaker 251 to provide audible feedback to a patient, can instruct thedisplay interface 252 to provide visual or graphical information to apatient, and/or can instruct the haptic feedback device 253 to provide ahaptic stimulus to a patient. In one or more embodiments, the hapticfeedback device 253 includes a transducer configured to vibrate or toprovide another mechanical signal.

FIG. 2B illustrates generally a block diagram of a portion of a systemconfigured to receive a farfield signal. The system can include thesensing electrodes 220, such as can include the electrodes 121 and 122of the source 102, or the electrodes 123 and 124 of the farfield sensordevice 130. In the example of FIG. 2B, there are at least four sensingelectrodes represented collectively as the sensing electrodes 220, andindividually as SE0, SE1, SE2, and SE3; however, other numbers ofsensing electrodes 220 may also be used. The sensing electrodes can becommunicatively coupled to a multiplexer circuitry 261. The multiplexercircuitry 261 can select pairs of the electrodes, or electrode groups,for use in sensing farfield signal information. In one or moreembodiments, the multiplexer circuitry 261 selects an electrode pair orgrouping based on a detected highest signal to noise ratio of a receivedsignal, or based on another relative indicator of signal quality, suchas amplitude, frequency content, and/or other signal characteristic.

Sensed electrical signals from the multiplexer circuitry 261 can undergovarious processing to extract information from the signals. For example,analog signals from the multiplexer circuitry 261 can be filtered by aband pass filter 262. The band pass filter 262 can be centered on aknown or expected modulation frequency of a sensed signal of interest. Aband pass filtered signal can then be amplified by a low-noise amplifier263. The amplified signal can be converted to a digital signal by ananalog-to-digital converter circuitry (ADC) 264. The digital signal canbe further processed by various digital signal processors 265, asfurther described herein, such as to retrieve or extract an informationsignal communicated by the implantable device 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic view of an embodimentof a midfield antenna 300 with multiple subwavelength structures 301,302, 303, and 304. The midfield antenna 300 can include a midfield platestructure with a planar surface. The one or more subwavelengthstructures 301-304 can be formed in the plate structure. In the exampleof FIG. 3, the antenna 300 includes a first subwavelength structure 301,a second subwavelength structure 302, a third subwavelength structure303, and a fourth subwavelength structure 304. Fewer or additionalsubwavelength structures can be used. The subwavelength structures canbe excited individually or selectively by one or more RF ports (e.g.,first through fourth RF ports 311, 312, 313, and 314) respectivelycoupled thereto. A “subwavelength structure” can include a hardwarestructure with dimensions defined relative to a wavelength of a fieldthat is rendered and/or received by the external source 102. Forexample, for a given λ₀ corresponding to a signal wavelength in air, asource structure that includes one or more dimensions less than λ₀ canbe considered to be a subwavelength structure. Various designs orconfigurations of subwavelength structures can be used. Some examples ofa subwavelength structure can include a slot in a planar structure, or astrip or patch of a conductive sheet of substantially planar material(e.g., a microstrip or similar conductive feature on a PCB).

FIG. 4 illustrates generally an example of the phase-matching oramplitude-matching network 400, such as can comprise a portion of thesource 102. In an embodiment, the network 400 can include the antenna300, and the antenna 300 can be electrically coupled to a plurality ofswitches 404A, 404B, 404C, and 404D, for example, via the first throughfourth RF ports 311, 312, 313, and 314 illustrated in FIG. 3. Theswitches 404A-D are each electrically coupled to a respective phaseand/or amplitude detector 406A, 406B, 406C, and 406D, and a respectivevariable gain amplifier 408A, 408B, 408C, and 408D. Each amplifier408A-D is electrically coupled to a respective phase shifter 410A, 410B,410C, and 410D, and each phase shifter 410A-D is electrically coupled toa common power divider 412 that receives an RF input signal 414 to betransmitted using the external source 102.

In one or more embodiments, the switches 404A-D can be configured toselect either a receive line (“R”) or a transmit line (“T”). A number ofswitches 404A-D of the network 400 can be equal to a number of ports ofthe midfield source 402. In the example of the network 400, the midfieldsource 402 includes four ports (e.g., corresponding to the foursubwavelength structures in the antenna 300 of the example of FIG. 3),however any number of ports (and switches), such as one, two, three,four, five, six, seven, eight or more, can be used.

The phase and/or amplitude detectors 406A-D are configured to detect aphase (Φ1, Φ2, Φ3, Φ4) and/or power (P1, P2, P3, P4) of a signalreceived at each respective port of the midfield source 402. In one ormore embodiments, the phase and/or amplitude detectors 406A-D can beimplemented in one or more modules (hardware modules that can includeelectric or electronic components arranged to perform an operation, suchas determining a phase or amplitude of a signal), such as including aphase detector module and/or an amplitude detector module. The detectors406A-D can include analog and/or digital components arranged to produceone or more signals representative of a phase and/or amplitude of asignal received at the external source 102.

The amplifiers 408A-D can receive respective inputs from the phaseshifters 410A-D (e.g., Pk phase shifted by Φk, Φ1+Φk, Φ2+Φk, Φ3+Φk, orΦ4+Φk). The output of the amplifier, O, is generally the output of thepower divider, M when the RF signal 414 has an amplitude of 4*M (in theembodiment of FIG. 4), multiplied by the gain of the amplifier Pi*Pk. Pkcan be set dynamically as the values for P1, P2, P3, and/or P4 change.Φk can be a constant. In one or more embodiments, the phase shifters410A-D can dynamically or responsively configure the relative phases ofthe ports based on phase information received from the detectors 406A-D.

In one or more embodiments, a transmit power requirement from themidfield source 402 is Ptt. The RF signal provided to the power divider412 has a power of 4*M. The output of the amplifier 408A is aboutM*P1*Pk. Thus, the power transmitted from the midfield coupler isM*(P1*Pk+P2*Pk+P3*Pk+P4*Pk)=Ptt. Solving for Pk yieldsPk=Ptt/(M*(P1+P2+P3+P4)).

The amplitude of a signal at each RF port can be transmitted with thesame relative (scaled) amplitude as the signal received at therespective port of the midfield coupler coupled thereto. The gain of theamplifiers 408A-D can be further refined to account for any lossesbetween the transmission and reception of the signal from the midfieldcoupler. Consider a reception efficiency of η=Pir/Ptt, where Pir is thepower received at the implanted receiver. An efficiency (e.g., a maximumefficiency), given a specified phase and amplitude tuning, can beestimated from an amplitude received at the external midfield sourcefrom the implantable source. This estimation can be given asη≈(P1+P2+P3+P4)/Pit, where Pit is an original power of a signal from theimplanted source. Information about a magnitude of the power transmittedfrom the implantable device 110 can be communicated as a data signal tothe external source 102. In one or more embodiments, an amplitude of asignal received at an amplifier 408A-D can be scaled according to thedetermined efficiency, such as to ensure that the implantable devicereceives power to perform one or more programmed operation(s). Given theestimated link efficiency, TI, and an implant power (e.g., amplitude)requirement of Pir′, Pk can be scaled as Pk=Pir′/[η(P1+P2+P3+P4)], suchas to help ensure that the implant receives adequate power to performthe programmed functions.

Control signals for the phase shifters 410A-D and the amplifiers 408A-D,such as the phase input and gain input, respectively, can be provided byprocessing circuitry that is not shown in FIG. 4. The circuitry isomitted to not overly complicate or obscure the view provided in FIG. 4.The same or different processing circuitry can be used to update astatus of one or more of the switches 404A-D between receive andtransmit configurations. See the processor circuitry 210 of FIG. 2A andits associated description for an example of processing circuitry.

FIG. 5 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment ofcircuitry 500 of the implantable device 110, or target device. Thecircuitry 500 includes one or more pad(s) 536, such as can beelectrically connected to the antenna 108. The circuitry 500 can includea tunable matching network 538 to set an impedance of the antenna 108based on an input impedance of the circuitry 500. The impedance of theantenna 108 can change, for example, due to environmental changes. Thetunable matching network 538 can adjust the input impedance of thecircuitry 500 based on the varying impedance of the antenna 108. In oneor more embodiments, the impedance of the tunable matching network 538can be matched to the impedance of the antenna 108. In one or moreembodiments, the impedance of the tunable matching network 538 can beset to cause a portion of a signal incident on the antenna 108 toreflect back from the antenna 108, thus creating a backscatter signal.

A transmit-receive (T/R) switch 541 can be used to switch the circuitry500 from a receive mode (e.g., in which power and/or data signals can bereceived) to a transmit mode (e.g., in which signals can be transmittedto another device, implanted or external). An active transmitter canoperate at an Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band of 2.45 GHZor 915 MHz, or the 402 MHz Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS)band for transferring data from the implant. Alternatively, data can betransmitted using a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) device that backscattersincident radio frequency (RF) energy to the external device.

The circuitry 500 can include a power meter 542 for detecting an amountof received power at the implanted device. A signal that indicates powerfrom the power meter 542 can be used by a digital controller 548 todetermine whether received power is adequate (e.g., above a specifiedthreshold) for the circuitry to perform some specified function. Arelative value of a signal produced by the power meter 542 can be usedto indicate to a user or machine whether an external device (e.g., thesource 102) used to power the circuitry 500 is in a suitable locationfor transferring power and/or data to the target device. In an example,if the source 102 is determined to be outside of a suitable location, anindication can be provided to a user to adjust or reconfigure the source102 and/or a garment that retains the source 102.

In one or more embodiments, the circuitry 500 can include a demodulator544 for demodulating received data signals. Demodulation can includeextracting an original information-bearing signal from a modulatedcarrier signal. In one or more embodiments, the circuitry 500 caninclude a rectifier 546 for rectifying a received AC power signal.

Circuitry (e.g., state logic, Boolean logic, or the like) can beintegrated into the digital controller 548. The digital controller 548can be configured to control various functions of the receiver device,such as based on the input(s) from one or more of the power meter 542,demodulator 544, and/or the clock 550. In one or more embodiments, thedigital controller 548 can control which electrode(s) (e.g., E0-E3) areconfigured as a current sink (anode) and which electrode(s) areconfigured as a current source (cathode). In one or more embodiments,the digital controller 548 can control a magnitude of a stimulationpulse produced through the electrode(s).

A charge pump 552 can be used to increase the rectified voltage to ahigher voltage level, such as can be suitable for stimulation of thenervous system. The charge pump 552 can use one or more discretecomponents to store charge for increasing the rectified voltage. In oneor more embodiments, the discrete components include one or morecapacitors, such as can be coupled to pad(s) 554. In one or moreembodiments, these capacitors can be used for charge balancing duringstimulation, such as to help avoid tissue damage.

A stimulation driver circuitry 556 can provide programmable stimulationthrough various outputs 534, such as to an electrode array. Thestimulation driver circuitry 556 can include impedance measurementcircuitry, such as can be used to test for correct positioning of theelectrode(s) of the array. The stimulation driver circuitry 556 can beprogrammed by the digital controller to make an electrode a currentsource, a current sink, or a shorted signal path. The stimulation drivercircuitry 556 can be a voltage or a current driver. The stimulationdriver circuitry 556 can include or use a therapy delivery circuitrythat is configured to provide electrostimulation signal pulses to one ormore electrodes, such as using at least a portion of a received midfieldpower signal from the external source 102. In one or more embodiments,the stimulation driver circuitry 556 can provide pulses at frequenciesup to about 100 kHz. Pulses at frequencies around 100 kHz can be usefulfor nerve blocking.

The circuitry 500 can further include a memory circuitry 558, such ascan include a non-volatile memory circuitry. The memory circuitry 558can include storage of a device identification, neural recordings,and/or programming parameters, among other implant related data.

The circuitry 500 can include an amplifier 555 and analog digitalconverter (ADC) 557 to receive signals from the electrode(s). Theelectrode(s) can sense electricity from nerve signals within the body.The nerve signals can be amplified by the amplifier 555. These amplifiedsignals can be converted to digital signals by the ADC 557. Thesedigital signals can be communicated to an external device. The amplifier555, in one or more embodiments, can be a trans-impedance amplifier.

The digital controller 548 can provide data to a modulator/poweramplifier 562. The modulator/power amplifier 562 modulates the data ontoa carrier wave. The power amplifier 562 increases the magnitude of themodulated waveform to be transmitted.

The modulator/power amplifier 562 can be driven by an oscillator/phaselocked loop (PLL) 560. The PLL disciplines the oscillator so that itremains more precise. The oscillator can optionally use a differentclock from the clock 550. The oscillator can be configured to generatean RF signal used to transmit data to an external device. A typicalfrequency range for the oscillator is about 10 kHz to about 2600 MHz(e.g., from 10 kHz to 1000 MHz, from 500 kHz to 1500 kHz, from 10 kHz to100 kHz, from 50 kHz to 200 kHz, from 100 kHz to 500 kHz, from 100 kHzto 1000 kHz, from 500 kHz to 2 MHz, from 1 MHz to 2 MHz, from 1 MHz to10 MHz, from 100 MHz to 1000 MHz, from 500 MHz to 2500 MHz, overlappingranges thereof, or any value within the recited ranges). Otherfrequencies can be used, such as can be dependent on the application.The clock 550 is used for timing of the digital controller 548. Atypical frequency of the clock 550 is between about one kilohertz andabout one megahertz (e.g., between 1 kHz and 100 kHz, between 10 kHz and150 kHz, between 100 kHz and 500 kHz, between 400 kHz and 800 kHz,between 500 kHz and 1 MHz, between 750 kHz and 1 MHz, overlapping rangesthereof, or any value within the recited ranges). Other frequencies canbe used depending on the application. A faster clock generally uses morepower than a slower clock.

A return path for a signal sensed from a nerve is optional. Such a pathcan include the amplifier 555, the ADC 557, the oscillator/PLL 560, andthe modulator/power amplifier 562. Each of these items and connectionsthereto can optionally be removed.

In some embodiments of the midfield source devices described herein, atarget or focal region can be adjusted, such as without mechanicalreconfiguration of the source, using degrees of freedom provided by theamplitudes and phases of the input port signals. Such field directing orfocusing can be useful in applications in which a source may be used topower implantable devices configured to interact with organs in rhythmicmotion (e.g., due to breathing or heartbeat), to power one or moreimplantable devices, to power an implantable device that is movableinside the body, or to provide power from a source that is movablerelative to the implantable device 110. For example, a source retainedby a garment adjacent to a tissue surface can update a focal region asthe garment, and therefore the source, moves due to normal ambulation ormovement of the user.

To shift a focal region, excitation signal characteristics for differentsubwavelength structures (e.g., subwavelength structures that are partof the same or different source device) can be configured andreconfigured, such as in real-time, such as to enable various fieldpatterns to be provided.

FIG. 6 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of asystem 600 for selectively providing power and/or a data communicationsignals to (respective) multiple target devices. The system 600 includesthe antenna 300 (see FIG. 3), such as can be included or used in thesource 102 (see FIG. 1). The antenna 300 can be configured tocommunicate power and/or data signals to one or both of a first targetdevice 611 and a second target device 612. That is, the externalmidfield device (e.g., the antenna 300 or circuitry that can beelectrically coupled thereto, such as illustrated in FIG. 4 among otherFIGS.) can be configured to manipulate an evanescent field at or near anexternal tissue surface to direct transmission of wireless power and/ordata signals within the tissue, such as to the first and/or secondtarget device 611 and 612.

In FIG. 6, the first and second target devices 611 and 612 are therapydelivery or sensor devices, and each includes multiple electrodes E0,E1, E2, and E3. Other target devices can similarly be used and may havedifferent numbers and/or configurations of electrodes. The first targetdevice 611 and the second target device 612 can be similar to or thesame as the implantable device 110, or other implantable devicediscussed herein.

In one or more embodiments, the external midfield device communicatessignals to the first and second target devices 611 and 612 at different,non-overlapping time intervals. For example, the external midfielddevice can send signals to and/or receive signals from the first targetdevice 611 during a first interval Δt1 and a third interval Δt3, and theexternal midfield device can send signals to and/or receive signals fromthe second target device 612 during a second interval Δt2 and a fourthinterval Δt4. The external midfield device can communicate power and/ordata in a round-robin manner, with the antenna 300 providing differentsignals to different targets at different times. Optionally, theexternal midfield device provides a blanking period or delay between thedifferent communication intervals.

Referring again to the examples of FIGS. 1, 2A, 3, and/or 4, the source102 includes an assembly with electronic control hardware, such asincluding the network 400, and an electromagnetic transmitting elementor elements, such as including the antenna 300. The assembly can bepackaged in various ways. For example, in one or more embodiments,devices, systems, and methods include an electromagnetic transmissionelement mounted to a common substrate or PCB as its associated controlhardware.

Control hardware can include electronics components (passive components(e.g., diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, or thelike), discrete integrated circuits, logic components (e.g., logicgates, multiplexers, or the like), application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs)) as well as metallic traces which connect signal andpower pads for each of the components. During a design process, thecoupling between the electronic control hardware and an electromagnetictransmission element (e.g., an antenna) is carefully managed, and almostinevitably results in a loss of efficiency for the electromagnetictransmission element and/or a loss of signal integrity for theelectronic components. This loss of efficiency and/or signal integritybecomes more impactful in packages with compact designs. Embodimentsdiscussed in this subsection can help overcome the loss of efficiency inthe transmission element and/or the loss of signal integrity in theelectronic components.

In an example, devices, systems, and methods include integrating controlhardware into a planar electromagnetic transmission element in anelectronic device package (e.g., on a printed circuitry board (PCB), aflexible substrate, or other medium on which an electronic device canreside). There are many types of planar electromagnetic transmissionelements including a microstrip or patch antenna, a slot antenna, or acombination thereof. These antennas can be made in a variety of shapesand sizes and configured to interact (efficiently) with a wide varietyof electromagnetic signal frequencies. Another type of planarelectromagnetic transmission element includes a mid-field antenna, suchas a midfield antenna described in WIPO Publication No. WO/2015/179225,which is incorporated herein by reference.

Decreasing a form factor of a package that includes such a planarelectromagnetic transmission element is difficult due at least in partto efficiency and signal losses from electromagnetic radiationcommunicating between components near the electromagnetic transmissionelement. Thus, integrating control hardware into a planar antenna orelectromagnetic element on a printed computer board (PCB) can causeundesirable losses in the signal integrity and performance of theelectromagnetic control element. These effects can be more of a concernwhen package size is reduced and an electromagnetic transmission elementcovers a larger proportion or majority of a footprint of the package.

In the case of a mid-field powering coupler (electromagnetictransmission element), the planar metal pattern which provides efficientenergy transfer to an implanted device (e.g., an implanted medicaldevice) may be several centimeters in length in length and widthdimensions. Control hardware (e.g., electronic hardware components) canbe used to provide Radio Frequency (RF) power to ports of the mid-fieldcoupler, modulate the RF signal for communication with the implanteddevice, receive communications from the implanted device, and/or providea user interface for the patent/clinician to set one or more parametersof the circuitry or receive data from the implanted device. The controlhardware can be provided on a separate PCB from the mid-field poweringcoupler, but at the cost of size (form factor).

For attaching the circuitry (the electromagnetic transmission device andthe control hardware) to the body, it can be beneficial to havedimensions of the integrated device (electromagnetic transmissionelement and control hardware) near the same dimensions as theelectromagnetic transmission element, which can occupy the largestsurface area of the transmission element, so as to reduce the formfactor of the integrated circuitry. To reduce the form factor further,the electronic components can be integrated on the same substrate as themid-field powering coupler. For example, in a two-board integratedcircuit where the RF signal is sourced from a board separate from themidfield coupler (e.g., the control hardware is on a board separate fromthe electromagnetic transmission element) the circuitry may have anoverall thickness of 15 mm or more. In contrast, a single board solution(e.g., a device that includes the control hardware on the same board asthe electromagnetic transmission element) can have an overall thicknessof about 3 mm (e.g., 1 mm to 5 mm, 2 mm to 4 mm). The volume saved fromthe integration can be used for additional battery capacity or can allowfor the device to be housed in a thinner package that is less obtrusiveor visible, such as when the device is worn on the body (e.g., using agarment or other accessor to hold the device near or adjacent to thebody).

Due to the limited area of outer layers of a circuitry substrate (e.g.,a PCB or flexible substrate), it can be difficult to integrate thecomponents and traces with the electromagnetic transmission element. Inone or more embodiments, the hardware control components can be placedon the same layers as the patterned electromagnetic transmission elementand microstrip feed lines for excitation of the electromagnetictransmission element. The placement of these components and traces alongthese layers can cause undesired coupling that can cause communicationbetween the control hardware and the electromagnetic transmissionelement, resulting is loss of signal integrity and/or power transferefficiency.

An advantage of one or more embodiments can include one or more of: (i)circuitry operating with reduced noise from the environment; and (ii) amid-field powering device with a reduced form factor, such as comparedto one with control circuitry and a transmission element on separateboards; among others.

FIG. 7 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of a system 700 that includes components of the source 102,such as the control hardware and the electromagnetic transmissionelement, on a single board 722 or substrate. The system 700 asillustrated includes the control hardware and the transmission elementon a top layer of the substrate (not illustrated). The transmissionelement is separated from the control hardware by a faraday cage 720 orother element that excludes or inhibits ingress of electrostatic orelectromagnetic energy, such as to shield the control hardware fromelectromagnetic radiation of the transmission element and vice versa.

The faraday cage 720 can be a part of the electromagnetic transmissionelement that radiates. The control components are fully integratedwithin a conductive surface of the transmission element using thefaraday cage 720. In such embodiments, the faraday cage 720 is actingboth as a shield (for the control components) and as a radiating elementof the transmission element. Due to the skin depth of the material usedfor the faraday cage 720, the electromagnetic currents at the outersurface of the faraday cage that induce radiation do not penetrate morethan several microns at gigahertz frequencies. Thus, the internalcomponents can advantageously be shielded from the electromagneticfields induced by the faraday cage 720 radiating as part of thetransmission element, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, the board 722 can include multiple layers,such as a first layer 724, a second layer 726, and a third layer 728.The third layer 728 can be thicker than the first layer 724 and thesecond layer 726. In one or more embodiments, the board 722 can be madeof an FR4 substrate (e.g., a glass-reinforced epoxy laminate comprisinga composite material composed of woven fiberglass cloth with an epoxyresin binder that is flame resistant), a silicon substrate, ajinomotobuild-up film (ABF), a dielectric, or other material. The controlhardware can be situated on a top surface of the first layer 724 alongwith routing (e.g., traces) between components of the control hardware.The components of the control hardware (e.g., high power components) mayhave thermally conductive material applied to conduct heat to thefaraday cage 720.

A ground plane can be situated on the second layer 726. The faraday cage720 can be shorted to the ground plane by one or more vias 730. One ormore vias 732 can provide a signal to a port of a slot 734 (e.g., aresonating element) on the third layer 728. The signal to the port canbe from one of the power amplifiers. The faraday cage 720 and the groundplane can be configured with corresponding slots (a slot pattern).

In one or more embodiments, the control hardware components are placedon a surface layer of the board 722 with a majority of the routingprovided on the same surface layer. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, thecontrol hardware and most of the routing are on a top surface of thefirst layer 724 (e.g., the surface on which the faraday cage 720 ismounted).

In one or more embodiments, the slot mid-field pattern (e.g., groundplane) can be printed on, or at least partially in, the second layer 726(e.g., the layer immediately below the first layer 724). In one or moreembodiments, the second layer 726 can also serve as a ground plane. Oneor more vias 730 can be included that connect the first layer 724 withthe second layer 726, such as to short the faraday cage 720 at the toplayer to ground. In one or more embodiments, the vias 730 can be at ornear the edges of the mid-field pattern and/or the edges of the slotswhich form the midfield element. Layers between the ground plane andexcitation ports along a bottom surface of the third layer 728 may beused for limited traces. In some embodiments, microstrip excitationslots or feeds are positioned along or adjacent a bottom surface of thethird layer 728.

FIG. 8 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the system 700 of FIG. 7. The perspective view shows acover 740 and a base 742 of the faraday cage 720. FIG. 9A illustrates,by way of example, a perspective view diagram of an embodiment of thefaraday cage 720. FIG. 9B illustrates, by way of example, a perspectiveview diagram of an embodiment of the faraday cage cover 740. FIG. 9Cillustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the faraday cage base 742.

The geometry of the faraday cage cover 740, in one or more embodiments,can accommodate and not interfere with (e.g., can be complementary to,such as to be configured for) a slot pattern of the electromagnetictransmission element. The faraday cage cover 740 can be implemented witha stamped or machined metal plate. Possible materials include copper,steel, or aluminum. The faraday cage cover 740 can be implemented with asolid material, a wire mesh, or a combination thereof.

The faraday cage 720 can be formed by the faraday cage cover 740 whichforms a conductive shield above the components while a ground plane 750(see, e.g., FIG. 11) forms the base of the faraday cage 720, below thecomponents. Vias 730 at the edges of the slots in the faraday cage 720and on edges of the cage base 742 can help form sides of the faradaycage 720. A fully enclosed cage can effectively be formed between thecover above the components and the layer below the components, such asin the shape of the midfield transmitter pattern.

In the various illustrated embodiments, the faraday cage 720 is providedover or covers various components of control circuitry. In theembodiments shown, the faraday cage 720 is attached to the board 722using a conductive adhesive, such as solder, conductive paste,electrically conductive tape, or other conductive adhesion mechanism.The board 722 is illustrated as a four-layer board manufactured using afour-layer process, but other board designs can be used, such as caninclude fewer or more layers. The faraday cage cover 740 is illustratedas being a solid material, but in other embodiments can be mesh orotherwise include one or more holes, perforations, slots or slitstherethrough.

FIG. 10 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofthe system 700 from an opposite side as that shown in FIG. 8. One ormore microstrips or RF slots 734 can excite the transmission element(e.g., the combination of the slots 752 in the ground plane 750 and thefaraday cage 720), such as can be used if the pattern were formed with athicker metal layer. From the RF circuitry perspective, the effectivethick slot element allows for wideband enhancement of theelectromagnetic transmission element. Electromagnetic energy istransferred to the transmission element, which the faraday cage 720 is apart of, from components (e.g., oscillator, power amplifier, phasecompensation circuitry, and so forth) inside the faraday cage 720. Oneor more vias 732 connects the output of power amplifier from within thefaraday cage 720 to the slots 734 of the electromagnetic element outsideof the cage, thus transferring electromagnetic energy internal to thefaraday cage 720 to the external environment through a via 732. Theslots 734 can be open circles or open ellipse shapes, such as shown inFIG. 10. Other shapes can similarly be used, including linear slotfeatures.

In addition, from the perspective of thermal management, the patternedmetal plate (faraday cage cover, patterned ground plane, and/or vias)can be used for dissipation of heat. Thermally conductive material suchas thermal grease, thermal tape, or thermal epoxy can be used as athermal conductor between the components inside the faraday cage 720 andthe faraday cage base 742 and/or the faraday cage cover 740. The thermalconductor can help radiate heat away from the components inside the cage720 to the external environment, such as away from a user's body.

FIG. 11 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the second layer 726. The second layer 726 as illustratedincludes the ground plane 750 and slots 752 in the ground plane 750. Thefaraday cage base 742 can include slots 751 therein so as to notinterfere with the slots 752.

FIG. 12 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the system 700 with the top layer 724 of the board 722removed so as to show the alignment of the slots 752 and the slots 751.As can be seen, the slots 751 in the faraday cage base 742 correspond tolocations where the slots 752 are present in the second layer 726 (e.g.,slot pattern of the electromagnetic transmission element). Thus, thefootprint of the faraday cage base 742 does not overlap or is notcoincident with any portion of the slots 752 in the embodiments shown.The patterned midfield plate pattern is at the second layer 726 (firstinternal layer) and is shorted to the faraday cage 720 with one or morevias between the pattern of the electromagnetic transmission element(e.g., midfield coupler) and the faraday cage 720.

FIG. 13 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of the system 700 that includes the faraday cage 720 removedso as to illustrate the discrete components 1360 under the faraday cagecover, in the faraday cage 720, and on the first layer 724. While thecomponents are illustrated as chips, the components can include one ormore resistors, capacitors, inductors, integrated circuits, transistors,logic gates, oscillators, state logic components, multiplexers,switches, connectors, or other electrical or electronic components, suchas one or more of those in the circuitry of the external device (e.g.,the circuitry of the system 400, or other external device circuitrydiscussed herein). The discrete components 1360 can be electricallyconnected by one or more traces 1362 on the first layer 724. A thermalpaste, grease, or other substance, material, or coating can be situatedon and/or around one or more of the discrete components 1360 and/orbetween the discrete components 1360 and the faraday cage 720, such asto conduct heat away from the components 1360 to the faraday cage cover740 or faraday cage base 742. The thermal paste or grease can transferheat from the electrical or electronic components and other elements incontact with or sufficiently near the thermal paste or grease to thefaraday cage 720 and subsequently the surrounding environment.

Systems, devices, garments, or other wearable or body-attachableaccessories can be configured for positioning and/or retention of anexternal device near a therapy site. More specifically, described inthis subsection are devices, systems, and methods for discretepositioning and/or verification of the positioning of the externaldevice external to the therapy site.

Although considerable progress has been made in the realm of medicaldevice therapy, there still exists a need for comfortable, wearablemedical devices that interact with an implanted medical therapy device.A device, or garment or accessory that holds a device at or near thebody should be comfortable and relatively unnoticeable to the eye for abetter user experience. Various existing form factors for such devicesinclude some that are prohibitively large, such that an individualwearing some types of therapy devices may be uncomfortable and/orembarrassed because the device is noticeable, obtrusive, or interfereswith their daily activities.

In an example, a wearable element or garment is configured for acomfortable and/or efficient way of carrying or positioning an externaldevice, such as a source 102, at or near a body or tissue interface,such as near an implantable device 110 that is in wireless power and/ordata communication with the source 102. In one or more embodiments, asystem includes an implantable sacral neuromodulation device, such ascan be implanted in a patient, and can include an implantablecommunicating element configured to send and/or receive a wirelesssignal to/from an external device (a wearable device). The externaldevice can include, for example, an antenna, battery, and/or electronics(e.g., control circuitry, such as circuitry of the source 102, antenna300, or other external device discussed herein). The system can furtherinclude a wearable element (e.g., a garment, accessory, clothing, aband, elastic wrap, or other wearable garb) configured to be worn by auser (e.g., a patient) and the external device is coupled to or providedin or retained by the wearable element. The external device can beconfigured to send and/or receive a wireless signal to communicate withthe implantable device. In one or more embodiments, the external devicecan be placed in multiple locations relative to the wearable element.

The external device can have a variety of configurations. In one or moreembodiments, the external device can include an antenna (e.g., a powerand/or data transmitter, such as a midfield transmitter) positionedabove an S3 foramen and configured to power an implantable device (e.g.,an implantable neurostimulator). In one or more embodiments, theimplantable device can include an internal inductive coil and theexternal device can include an external inductive coil. The coils can beconfigured to resonate at substantially the same frequency, such as tomaximize power coupling. In an example, the external device can includea location mechanism configured to indicate proper alignment between theexternal device and the implantable device. The location mechanism maybe coupled with or included in the circuitry of the external device.

In one or more embodiments, the system can include a first externaldevice and a second external device that are coupled to one another andare positionable above the S3 foramen. The second external device can beelectrically coupled to the first external device. In one or moreembodiments, the first external device can be configured to receive datafrom the implantable device and the second external device can beconfigured to provide power to the first external device.

The external device can have a variety of configurations. In one or moreembodiments, the external device can include a flexible housing orbattery adapted to flex in response to motion of a user wearing theflexible battery. In one or more embodiments, the wearable element canbe formed from one or a plurality of elastic straps. The wearableelement can be adjustable to a variety of patient body sizes and shapes.In still other embodiments, the wearable element can be a belt, pants,shorts, a vest, a sash, an undergarment, or an adhesive patch. In someembodiments, the wearable element can include at least one pocket formedtherein. The pocket can be movable or fixed relative to the wearableelement. In one or more embodiments, the pocket includes at least onebattery disposed therein which is configured to provide power to theexternal device. Although referred to generally herein as a “pocket”,any feature of a wearable element that can position, hold, retain,cover, or enclose all or a portion of an external device can beconsidered to be a pocket. In some examples, the term “receptacle” isused to refer to a feature that can position, hold, retain, cover, orenclose all or a portion of an external device. The terms pocket andreceptacle are not intended to be construed as including or requiringany particular number of sides or walls. For example, a receptacle caninclude an adhesive, fastener, or other means of attaching a sidewall ofan external device to a sidewall of a garment. A receptacle can includea material shelf or lip that facilitates device placement. In otherexamples, an external device can include or use a clip or other means tofasten the external device to various clothing, garments, or otheraccessories that can facilitate external device placement or can enhancesignal transmission from an external device to an implanted device(e.g., a dielectric member or insert, discussed further herein).

In some examples, the wearable element includes a cloth or fabricassembly that is washable and is configured for repeated use. That is,the wearable element can include a garment similar to traditionalclothing or underwear but including a receptacle or other feature tofacilitating interfacing the wearable element with an external device.In some examples, the wearable element includes a disposable assembly,such as can be manufactured from various cloth, composite, or othermaterials. In an example, the wearable element includes a diaper withone or more absorbent materials configured to receive and retain bodilyfluids. In an example, the diaper can include one or more features orabsorbent structures configured to direct wetness or excrement away froman external device. The wearable element can be made from woven ornon-woven fabric, mesh, nylon, or other materials suitable for use ingarments, clothes, or other wearable accessories.

Methods are provided for communicating with and powering animplantable/implanted device. The external device can be activated towirelessly transfer a signal through tissue to the implantable device.For example, the external device can deliver energy to the implantabledevice and/or receive data from the implantable device. The externaldevice can include an external inductive coil or midfield device. Theimplantable device can include an internal inductive coil or otherelectromagnetic signal receiving element. One or more of these elementsmay be used to transfer a communication signal or to generate power atthe implantable device.

Wireless communication can be used to position an external device on orin the wearable element, such as can be worn by a patient at one of aplurality of locations, such as to align the external device with acommunicating element on an implanted device. While the external devicecan be positioned at a variety of locations, in one or more embodimentsthe external device may be ideally positioned on or over a skin surfacein proximity to the implanted device. In an example, a dielectric insertcan be provided between the external device and the skin surface toaugment or facilitate communication between the external device and theimplanted device. The implanted device may send a wireless signal to theexternal device, such as can include signals indicating informationregarding an amount of energy being transferred, acknowledgement ofprogramming signals for or from the external device, and/or malfunctionor error warnings. The external device can be configured to communicateto the patient through audio tones, visual displays, or vibration. Thiscan be used to help guide the patient to place and/or secure theexternal device at a location that is sufficient or even ideal forwireless power transfer. The external device may communicate informationabout a battery level of the external device in addition to other devicestatus information to the user. This may help a patient understand whento change or charge a battery of the external device.

The external device can be positioned on or in the wearable element orat a distance apart from the wearable element. For example, the wearableelement can include a plurality of flexible straps, and the externaldevice can be removably mated to the flexible straps, such as inproximity to the implantable device. Additionally, or alternatively, theexternal device can be disposed within a pocket affixed to the wearableelement. In one or more embodiments, the wearable element can include aflexible battery. The external device can be coupled to the flexiblebattery and can deliver energy to the implantable device, such as energythat originated at the flexible battery.

FIG. 14A illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of a system 1400Afor communication of one or more signals between an implanted device1404 and an external device 1402. The implanted device 1404 can besimilar to or the same as any of the implantable devices discussedherein, such as the implantable device 110, or other implantable device.The external device 1402 can be similar to or the same as any of theexternal devices discussed herein, such as the source 102, the antenna300, or the like. The external device 1402 can be situated in and/oraffixed at a position within a pocket 1406. The implanted device 1404can be implanted under the surface a user's skin, such as to be internalto a user's body 1410. The external device 1402 can transfer powerand/or data to the implanted device 1404. In one or more embodiments,the external device 1402 is positioned in a sleeve or other affixationor retention feature of a wearable garment. In an example, the system1400A includes a dielectric member 1403 provided between the externaldevice 1402 and the user's body 1410 or tissue surface.

The pocket 1406 can be internal to, or coupled to, a wearable element1408, such as an undergarment, pants, shirt, panty hose, shorts,bodysuit, wearable elastic band, and so forth. In the example of FIG.14A, the pocket 1406 is drawn using dashed lines to indicate theboundaries of the pocket 1406. In various embodiments, boundaries of thepocket 1406 or other receptacle can be fixed or adjustable, and can beconfigured to accommodate one or several different types of externaldevices. The boundaries or walls of the pocket 1406 can be rigid orcompliant (e.g., elastic), and can be configured to receive and retainthe external device 1402 in a particular location relative to otherportions or features of the wearable element 1408. For example, when thewearable element 1408 includes an underwear or underpants garment, thepocket 1406 can be provided in a fixed location relative to an elasticwaistband or to leg holes of the garment. A position of the pocket 1406relative to one or more of the other features of the wearable element1408 can depend on, or can be related to, an overall size of thewearable element 1408, as further discussed herein.

In an example, the dielectric member 1403 is configured to facilitate orenhance wireless communication between the external device 1402 and theimplanted device 1404. The dielectric member 1403 can include a materialhaving a dielectric or relative permittivity characteristic that is thesame or similar to that of air (e.g., having a K value of approximately1). In an example, relative permittivity of the dielectric member 1403is the same or similar to that of air at one or more particularfrequencies or frequency bands of interest. For example, a frequencyband of interest can include a band from about 300 MHz to about 5 GHz.

In an example, the dielectric member 1403 includes or comprises one ormore of a polychloroprene rubber (e.g., neoprene), a urethane (e.g.,PORON MSRS), a foam, or other natural or composite material, generallyprovided in a sheet, rectangular cuboid, cylindrical, or other shapehaving non-negligible width, height, and depth or length dimensions.Generally, the dielectric member 1403 has low thermal conductivity andis resistant to mild acids and bases.

The dielectric member 1403 can be elastic or compressible to enhanceuser comfort when a garment comprising the dielectric member 1403 isworn. A dielectric characteristic (e.g., relative permittivity value)can be substantially unchanged when the member is in compressed anduncompressed (e.g., relaxed) states. In an example, the dielectricmember 1403 can receive a first force or pressure over a first area on afirst side of the member and distribute the force or pressure over agreater second area on at least a second side of the member, such as toenhance user comfort.

In an example, the dielectric member 1403 is configured to provide aneffect similar to an airgap between the external device 1402 and thetissue, or tissue interface, of the user. The dielectric member 1403 canhave a relative permittivity characteristic that is less than a relativepermittivity of a substrate of the source, is less than a relativepermittivity of a housing that encloses the source, and is less than arelative permittivity of tissue at the tissue interface (e.g., tissue inwhich the implanted device 1404 is implanted). The dielectric member1403 so configured provides a tunneling effect for energy provided bythe external device 1402, and avoids a strong coupling between thetissue itself and the external device 1402. In other words, instead ofproviding a matching layer that enhances coupling between the externaldevice 1402 and the tissue in which the implanted device 1404 isimplanted, the dielectric member 1403 is configured to provide arelative permittivity mismatch at the tissue interface, which in turnfacilitates energy tunneling from the midfield external device 1402 tothe implanted device 1404.

In the example of FIG. 14A, the dielectric member 1403 and the externaldevice 1402 are co-located in a common cavity of the pocket 1406. FIG.14B illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of a system 1400B forcommunication of one or more signals between the implanted device 1404and the external device 1402. The system 1400B includes first and secondreceptacles 1406A and 1406B. The first and second receptacles 1406A and1406B can be affixed or attached to a common wearable element 1408. Inthe example of FIG. 14B, the first receptacle 1406A is configured toreceive the external device 1402 and the second receptacle 1406B isconfigured to receive the dielectric member 1403. A sidewall (e.g.,comprising one or more of the same materials as used in theconstructions of the wearable element 1408, or a different material) canbe provided between the first and second receptacles 1406A and 1406B,for example, to facilitate better or more accurate placement of each ofthe external device 1402 and the dielectric member 1403 relative to thewearable element 1408 and therefore to the body 1410. In other words,the first and second receptacles 1406A and 1406B can share a commonsidewall. The size, shape, and volume of each of the first and secondreceptacles 1406A and 1406B can be the same or different; generally,dimensions or elasticity characteristics of the one or more receptaclescan be selected or configured according to the device and/or dielectricmember that is intended for use therein.

In an example, one or more materials that comprise the wearable element1408 and the pocket (e.g., the pocket 1406, and/or the first or secondreceptacles 1406A or 1406B) can have a dielectric characteristic orrelative permittivity that is the same or different than a permittivitycharacteristic of the dielectric member 1403. In an example, differentportions of the wearable element 1408 can comprise different materialshaving respective different permittivity characteristics. For example, aportion of the wearable element 1408 configured for placement betweenthe dielectric member 1403 and the user's body 1410 can include amaterial having a relative permittivity characteristic that issubstantially the same as the permittivity of the dielectric member1403.

Various other benefits can be realized when the external device 1402 isused together with the dielectric member 1403. For example, thedielectric member 1403 can provide thermal insulation between the user'sbody 1410 and the external device 1402. Thus heat generated by theexternal device 1402 can be inhibited from reaching the user's body1410. In some examples, a garment configured to hold the external device1402 and/or the dielectric member 1403 can be configured to sink heataway from the external device 1402 to additionally shunt heat away fromthe user's body 1410.

The dielectric member 1403 can have a height characteristic (e.g., athickness) that is configured to provide a specified minimum separationdistance or standoff between the external device 1402 and a tissueinterface of the user's body 1410. In an example, the minimum separationdistance is about 2 mm. The specified minimum separation distance can beselected to reduce loading on a transmission antenna of the externaldevice 1402, and thereby enhance or improve the longevity of theexternal device 1402 per charge. In other words, the separation distancebetween the external device 1402 and a tissue interface can be tuned orselected to avoid exceeding a defined maximum loading condition of atransmission antenna of the external device 1402. Loading of thetransmission antenna can be a function of, among other things, operatingfrequency, which can be separately or additionally tuned by circuitry onthe external device 1402. For example, see discussion of the varioustuning circuitry and/or tuning features, such as including capacitivetuning elements, in PCT Application No. PCT/US2018/016051, filed on Jan.30, 2018, and titled “MIDFIELD TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER SYSTEMS”, whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In an example, the specified minimum separation distance can be selectedto reduce a rate at which electromagnetic energy is absorbed by tissue,that is, by the user's body 1410, such as at or near the tissueinterface. In other words, the dielectric member 1403 can help reduce aspecific absorption rate at the user's body 1410 from energy originatingfrom the external device 1402. In some embodiments, a specificabsorption rate can be sufficiently low that no additional standoff isneeded or desired.

FIG. 15 illustrates, by way of example, a back view diagram of a portionof a human body 1500, such as including the user's body 1410, multiplepotential placement locations for the external device 1402, andcorresponding areas which the pocket 1406 can cover. In an example, theexternal device 1402 can be placed in the pocket 1406 at or near aposition of an S3 foramen, such as can be about 9-10 centimeter from thetip of a coccyx or sciatic notch and/or about two centimeters to theleft or the right of a midline of the human body (indicated by a dashedline 1502). One or more of the wearable elements or garments discussedherein can be configured to position an external device 1402 at or nearan S3 foramen when the element or garment is worn by a user.

In an example, a location of the pocket 1406 can be determined based ona particular feature or set of features of the wearable element 1408and/or a user body type. In the example of FIG. 15, the wearable element1408 includes an underpants-style garment, and a top edge of the pocket1406 is provided at a distance D1 below a top edge of a waistband of thegarment. In an example, a magnitude of the distance D1 can be changeddepending on a size of the garment. For example, as a user body sizeincreases and therefore a size of the garment increases, a targetlocation (e.g., at or near the S3 foramen) can be relatively furtherfrom a waistband of an underwear garment. That is, as a user body sizeand garment size increase, a distance from a top edge of the largergarment's waistband to the pocket 1406 can correspondingly increase tothereby provide optimized external device placement for different userbody types. Other landmarks than a top edge of a waistband can similarlybe used, for example, a distance from a lateral side edge of a garment,a distance from a crotch or leg opening feature of a garment, amongother fiducials, can similarly be used. Fiducial-based landmarking orpocket localization relative to other garment or user body features cansimilarly be used with garments other than underwear-style garments.

In an example, the wearable element 1408 is configured to be elastic orstretchable in one or more directions, and can be configured to restrictor resist stretching in another direction. During use when the wearableelement 1408 is an underpants-style garment, for example, an externaldevice 1402 in the pocket 1406 tends to migrate or shift primarily in avertical direction (the vertical direction corresponding to a heightdirection of a user). To help counteract the vertical location change,at least one of the constituent materials of the wearable element 1408can restrict or resist stretching in the vertical direction.

FIG. 16 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of ahuman body 1600. The body 1600 as illustrated includes a form-fittingembodiment of the wearable element 1408 with the pocket 1406 for housingthe external device 1402. The pocket 1406 as illustrated spans at leasttwo potential locations for placement of the eternal device 1402. Thepocket 1406, in one or more embodiments, may be narrower (in terms ofits width relative to the width of the human body), such as to coveronly a single potential location of the external device 1402. However,configuring the pocket 1406 to span two or more locations allows for asingle pocket to accommodate a wider variety of external devicelocations.

FIG. 17 illustrates, by way of example, an exploded view diagram of aportion of FIG. 14A that includes the pocket 1406 and the externaldevice 1402. The pocket 1406 is illustrated as including a top pocketlayer 1750 and a bottom pocket layer 1752. The top pocket layer 1750 issometimes referred to as the “top layers”. The bottom pocket layer 1752is sometimes referred to as the “bottom layers”. Note that theillustration of FIG. 17 can correspond to the layers of a sleeve aswell. Each of the top and bottom pocket layers 1750 and 1752 areillustrated as including three fabric layers, however, each of the topand bottom pocket layers 1750 and 1752 may include fewer or additionalfabric layers. The pocket 1406 is thus illustrated as including sixlayers and the device 1402 is illustrated as being situated betweenlayer 3 and layer 4 of the pocket. Note that the pocket 1406 may includefewer or more layers, depending on the application to be accommodated.As illustrated, the bottom pocket layer 1752 includes three layers, 7581(“Layer 1”), 7583 (“Layer 2”), and 7585 (“Layer 3”). As illustrated thetop pocket layer 1750 includes three layers, 7591 (“Layer 4”), 7593(“Layer 5”), and 7595 (“Layer 6”).

The Layer 1 of the pocket can include a soft, supple, and/or compliantmaterial. This layer is closest to the user's skin and can providecomfort. The Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 can be insulating material(s) (e.g.,materials that resist heat passing therethrough) and/or waterproof orwater resistant, respectively. This heat insulating property of thematerial can help protect a user's skin from heat produced by theexternal device 1402 and deflect heat towards the top pocket layer 1750.The waterproof/water resistant property can help prevent moisture fromtravelling to the user's skin and help transport any such moisturetowards the top layer(s). In one or more embodiments, one or more of thebottom pocket layer 1752 may be water wicking so as to transport wateraway from the user's skin towards the top layer(s).

One or more of the top layer(s) Layer 4, Layer 5, and/or Layer 6 may bea heat conductive material, such as to transport heat away from theuser's body. In an example, one or more of the layers includes thermallyconductive fabric or thermally conductive threads configured to sinkheat away from the external device 1402. One or more of the top layer(s)Layer 4, Layer 5, and/or Layer 6 may be compressive, such as to helpensure that the wearable element does not slip or otherwise move on theuser's body and to help keep the external device positioned in alocation at which it can communicate with the implantable/implanteddevice.

The wearable element can include a pocket or pockets in undergarmentsthat can include one or more top and one or more bottom layers. Aspreviously discussed, Layer 1 can be a soft breathable material, such aspolyester. This layer can be in direct contact with the skin. Layer 2and/or Layer 3 can be made out of an insulating material. Layer 3 can beneoprene, Gore-Tex, Outlast, or other material that includes a lowthermal conductivity, such as a material similar to neoprene. Layer 2and/or 3 may completely prevent the penetration and/or absorption ofliquid water (waterproof). Layers 2 and 3 can be the same material.Layer 2 and/or Layer 3, (the inside layer to the pocket, closest to thebody) can include a one-way permeable material, such as GORE-TEX®, GOREWINDSTOPPER® membrane, polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), hemp, sheep'swool, cotton, straw, aerogel, polyurethane, or the like.

In an example, one or more of the Layers 1-6 can be combined or made ofthe same or similar materials. For example, one or more of the layers incontact with or adjacent to the skin can include or comprise adielectric member made of a material having a dielectric permittivity orrelative permittivity that is the same or similar to that of ambient air(e.g., K approximately equal to 1). In an example, Layer 2 (7583 in FIG.17) comprises a dielectric portion having a specified relativepermittivity characteristic, and Layers 1 and 3 are provided atopposites side of Layer 2 to enhance user comfort, such as by providinga soft or compliant member for Layer 1 adjacent to the user's skin. Inan example, the dielectric is made from neoprene, however, othermaterials having similar relative permittivity characteristics can beused.

The pocket can be ventilated to allow heat to dissipate, sometimesreferred to as breathable. Layer 4 and/or layer 6 can include abreathable material that can allow the release of heat through the top(the side away from the user's body). The top of the pocket can includea breathable material. The sides of the pocket can include a breathableand/or waterproof material.

Insulating materials can include, for example, one or more of:polyurethane foam, PYROGEL® XT, GORE-TEX®, GORE WINDSTOPPER® membrane,polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), hemp, sheep's wool, cotton, straw,aerogel, polyurethane, a material with a high R-value, Outlast, or thelike.

In an example, a verification device 1701 can be coupled to or embeddedin a portion of the wearable element 1408. The verification device 1701can be a mechanical or electrical device configured to communicate withthe external device 1402. When the external device 1402 receives asignal or mechanical unlocking from the verification device 1701, thenone or more functions or features of the external device 1402 can bemade available to a user. In an example, the verification device 1701includes one of an RFID tag and RFID reader, and the external device1402 comprises the other one of the RFID tag and RFID reader. When thereader identifies and verifies an acceptable tag, then the reader canenable one or more functions on the external device 1402. Theverification device 1701 can help ensure that the external device 1402is used together with a genuine or intended wearable element 1408, forexample to ensure a proper or more accurate placement of the externaldevice 1402. Although the example of FIG. 17 shows the verificationdevice 1701 in proximity to the pocket 1406, the verification device1701 can be provided elsewhere in or on the wearable element 1408.

In an example, the verification device 1701 can include a sensor orother device that is configured to sense or determine when or whetherthe wearable element 1408 is being worn (e.g., correctly worn) by auser. In some examples, the verification device 1701 includes or uses anaccelerometer, gyroscope, or other position sensor device, and canoptionally include a state machine or other processor circuit configuredto monitor information from the verification device 1701 and provide astatus determination about the wearable element 1408. The statusdetermination can include, among other things, an indication of whetherthe wearable element 1408 is being worn by a user and whether thewearable element 1408 is being correctly worn. In an example, theexternal device 1402 can be enabled only when the verification device1701 indicates that the wearable element 1408, and therefore itsappurtenant external device 1402, is correctly worn by a user. Enablingor inhibiting one or more functions of the external device 1402, andcorrespondingly enabling or inhibiting one or more functions of animplanted device 1404, can help modulate a therapy in a way that can bebeneficial to a user.

For example, when the implanted device 1404 is implanted and configuredto treat overactive bladder, it can be beneficial to the user thatstimulation from the implanted device 1404 is interrupted or inhibitedwhen the user has a full bladder or wants to urinate. If the externaldevice 1402 is provided in or coupled to an underpants garment, then theexternal device 1402 can be moved away from its intended position whenthe user goes to urinate or defecate (e.g., because the user must removehis or her pants), and therefore communication between the externaldevice 1402 and the implanted device 1404 can be interrupted. Such aninterruption can cause the implanted device 1404 to halt therapydelivery. With therapy halted, the user can urinate more completely andeffectively. In an example, the implanted device 1404 can be configuredto provide a stimulation therapy only when (1) the wearable element 1408is properly worn by a user (such as can be optionally verified using theverification device 1701), (2) a receptacle or pocket of the wearableelement 1408 includes the external device 1402 (such as can beoptionally verified using the verification device 1701), and (3) theexternal device 1402 actively communicates power and/or data to theimplanted device 1404.

In an example, one or more of the implanted device 1404, the externaldevice 1402, the verification device 1701, or other sensors or circuitryin communication with one or more of the implanted device 1404, externaldevice 1402, and the verification device 1701, can be configured todetermine whether a user voiding event is likely or is about to occur.For example, information from an accelerometer can be used to determinewhether a user is sitting or if the user recently transitioned fromstanding to seated posture. In an example, information from anaccelerometer coupled to the wearable element 1408 can be used todetermine whether a donning or doffing of the wearable element 1408occurred or is occurring. Such acceleration patterns can be learned orcan be configured during a calibration or setup. In an example,information from a timer circuit can be used to determine that a voidingevent is likely to occur. In an example, a user can provide informationto the external device 1402 via an interface device about when orwhether the user intends to urinate, or about a user perception of abladder fullness or urge to urinate. In an example, one or more invasivesensors (e.g., bladder fullness sensors) can be used to provideinformation about whether a user voiding event is likely or is about tooccur.

FIGS. 18A-18D illustrate generally examples of portions of a method thatcan include enhancing a voiding efficiency for a user. The examples ofFIGS. 18A-18D can include a method for controlling delivery of neuralstimulation therapy using a system that includes an implanted midfielddevice, such as the implanted device 1404, and an external midfieldtransmitter device, such as the external device 1402. The externalmidfield transmitter device can include one or more structures excitableto manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generate apropagating and focused field in the tissue and thereby communicatepower and/or data signals to the implanted midfield device. Theimplanted midfield device includes one or more electrodes for deliveringan electrostimulation therapy to a neural target, and the deliveredtherapy can use, at least in part, energy received from the externalmidfield transmitter device.

FIG. 18A illustrates a first method 1800A that includes enhancing avoiding efficiency for a user by adjusting a therapy provided by theimplanted device 1404 based on information about a user voiding orbladder characteristic. At operation 1810, the example can includepositioning the external device 1402 at or near a tissue interface andthe implanted midfield device using a wearable element or garment, suchas using one of the wearable elements or garments discussed herein. Inan example, the wearable element includes an underwear orunderpants-style garment that is configured to locate the externaldevice 1402 in or near a pelvic region of a user.

At operation 1820, the example can include transmitting midfield powerand/or data signals from the external device 1402 to the implanteddevice 1404. The operation 1820 can include generating and providing thesame or different electrical drive signals to respective features (e.g.,sub-wavelength features) of the external device 1402 to manipulateevanescent fields outside of the user's body tissue and thereby generatea propagating and focused (e.g., steered) field inside the user's bodytissue, such as to target signal transmission toward the implanteddevice 1404. At operation 1830, the implanted device 1404 can provide astimulation therapy at or near a neural target using, at least in part,energy received from the external device 1402. In an example, the neuraltarget is in a pelvic region of the user.

At operation 1840, the example can include determining whether a uservoiding event is, or is likely to be, imminent or occurring for theuser. In an example, a control circuit at the external device 1402, atthe implanted device 1404, or located elsewhere (e.g., in a remotedevice in communication with the external device 1402) can useinformation from a user and/or from one or more sensors, timers, statemachines, or other circuit or circuits, to make a determination aboutwhether the user voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminent oroccurring.

At operation 1850, the example can include using the determination aboutthe user voiding event from operation 1840 to enhance or improve avoiding efficiency for the user. In an example, operation 1850 includesinhibiting or ceasing a stimulation therapy provided by the implanteddevice 1404 to the neural target when the voiding event is determined tobe, or is determined to be likely to be, imminent or occurring for thepatient. The therapy can be resumed automatically, such as following aspecified duration without providing the therapy, or the therapy can beresumed in response to receiving an indication that the voiding event iscompleted. The indication that the voiding event is completed can beprovided using the same or different information from the user and/orfrom the one or more sensors, timers, state machines, or other circuitor circuits.

The operations of FIGS. 18B-18D can optionally be combined, or any oneor more of the operations can be used together with the operations ofFIG. 18A. FIG. 18B illustrates generally an example of a portion of amethod 1800B that includes determining whether the user voiding eventis, or is likely to be, imminent or occurring (e.g., corresponding tooperation 1840 from the example of FIG. 18A). At operation 1841, theexample can include determining a user void interval or void frequency.The void interval or void frequency can represent a duration, orexpected duration, between times when the user urinates or defecates. Aprocessor in one or more of the external device 1402, the implanteddevice 1404, or elsewhere (e.g., in a remote device in communicationwith the external device 1402) can be used to determine the user voidinterval. In an example, the operation 1841 includes using informationfrom one or more physiologic sensors (e.g., coupled to a processor) todetermine a fullness characteristic about the user's bladder. Thephysiologic sensors can include one or more internal or externalsensors. In an example, the operation 1841 includes using subjectiveinformation input by the user about a sensation or feeling of bladderfullness or urge to urinate. At operation 1842, the example can includedetermining whether the user voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring based on the void interval as determined atoperation 1841.

FIG. 18C illustrates generally an example of a portion of a method 1800Cthat includes determining whether the user voiding event is, or islikely to be, imminent or occurring (e.g., corresponding to operation1840 from the example of FIG. 18A). At operation 1843, the example caninclude determining a communication efficiency indication about wirelesscommunication between the external device 1402 and the implanted device1404. In an example, the communication efficiency indication is ameasure of a quality of a received signal at the implanted device 1404relative to a signal emitted by the external device 1402. In an example,when the efficiency indication is at or above a specified thresholdefficiency value, then the implanted device 1404 can be configured tocarry out therapy delivery. When the efficiency indication falls belowthe specified threshold efficiency value, then the implanted device 1404can be configured to interrupt, halt, or change therapy delivery. In anexample, information about communication efficiency between the externaldevice 1402 and the implanted device 1404 can be determined at least inpart using a backscatter signal (see, e.g., the discussion about thebackscatter signal 112, above).

When the external device 1402 is shifted slightly away from an intendeduse position at a tissue interface near the implanted device 1404, theexternal device 1402 can update one or more phase or other parameters tohelp steer or shift a field generated by the external device 1402, suchas to attempt to maintain or establish communication that exceeds aminimum efficiency threshold. However, when the external device 1402 isremoved from the tissue interface, the implanted device 1404 canidentify a loss of communication (e.g., power), and interrupt, halt, orchange a therapy. In an example, the external device 1402 is configuredfor use with one or more of the wearable elements discussed herein. Whenthe wearable element is removed from the user's body, then the externaldevice 1402 is correspondingly removed from a tissue interface andtherapy provided by the implanted device 1404 can be interrupted.

At operation 1844, the method 1800C can include determining whether auser voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminent or occurring basedon the determined communication efficiency indication. For example, thewearable element 1408 can include an underpants-style garment and theexternal device 1402 can be coupled with the garment. When a userremoves the underpants-style garment, and therefore also removes theexternal device 1402 that is coupled to the garment, then circuitry ofthe external device 1402 and/or of the implanted device 1404 can beconfigured to recognize the communication interruption and, in turn,assume or determine whether the user is, or is likely to be, attemptingto urinate or defecate. The circuitry can use information from one ormore other sensors, timers, information from the user, or other deviceto help make the determination. For example, information about a time ofday, information particular to the user about void habits or frequency,or information from one or more other sensors can be used together tohelp inform the determination made at operation 1844. In an example, astate machine or other processor can receive the information about thecommunication efficiency and/or information from the one or more othersensors or circuitry and in response provide the determination atoperation 1844.

FIG. 18D illustrates generally an example of a portion of a method 1800Dthat includes determining whether the user voiding event is, or islikely to be, imminent or occurring (e.g., corresponding to operation1840 from the example of FIG. 18A). At operation 1845, the example caninclude sensing position information about the external device 1402and/or about the wearable element 1408, such as a wearable element thatincludes or is coupled to the external device 1402. In an example,sensing the position information about the external device 1402 caninclude receiving or determining position information from anaccelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, or other sensor, such as canbe coupled to the external device 1402 or to the wearable element 1408that is coupled to the external device 1402.

At operation 1846, the method 1800D can include determining whether auser voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminent or occurring basedon the sensed position information from operation 1845. For example, thewearable element 1408 can include an underpants-style garment and theexternal device 1402 can be coupled with the garment. When a userremoves the underpants-style garment, and therefore also removes theexternal device 1402 that is coupled to the garment, then circuitry ofthe external device 1402 and/or of the implanted device 1404 can beconfigured to recognize the position change and, in turn, assume ordetermine whether the user is, or is likely to be, attempting to urinateor defecate. The circuitry can use information from one or more othersensors, timers, information from the user, or other device to help makethe determination. For example, information about a time of day,information particular to the user about void habits or frequency, orinformation from one or more other sensors can be used together to helpinform the determination made at operation 1846. In an example, a statemachine or other processor can receive the position information aboutthe external device 1402 and/or information from the one or more othersensors or circuitry and in response provide the determination atoperation 1846.

FIG. 19A illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofan embodiment of bottom layers 1900A of the pocket 1406. FIG. 19Billustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anotherembodiment of bottom layers 1900B of the pocket 1406. The bottom layers1900B are similar to the bottom layers 1900A with the bottom layers1900B covering multiple potential implant locations (one on each side ofthe spinus tubercles, for example) and the bottom layers 1900A coveringone such potential location. The bottom layers 1900A as illustratedinclude a first bottom layer 1902A and a second bottom layer 1904A. Thefirst bottom layer 1902A can be closer to a user's body than the secondbottom layer 1904A when the layers 1900A are worn. The layers 1902A and1904A can be affixed to each other, such as by thread, adhesive,heat-bonding, or other affixing means. The layers 1902B and 1904B aresimilar to the layers 1902A and 1904A, respectively, with the layers1902B and 1904B being wider than the layers 1902A and 1904A aspreviously discussed.

FIG. 20 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofthe embodiment of bottom layers 2000, such as is similar to the layers1900 of FIG. 19, with the external device 1402 attached to the innermost layer (layer 2004 of the bottom layers 2000 of FIG. 19).

FIG. 21 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of layers 2100 that include the bottom layers 2100 of FIG. 19with an external device 1402 between the bottom layers and a top layer2106. The top layer 2106 is the inner most top layer and can be incontact with the external device 1402. The top layer 2106 and can beattached, such as by thread, adhesive, or other affixing means to any ofthe bottom layer(s), such as the layers 2102 and/or 2104.

FIG. 22 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of layers 2200 similar to the layers 2100 with an elasticband 2208 over the top layer 2106. The elastic band 2208 as illustratedincludes optional holes 2210 therethrough, such as to help provide aventilation area through which heat can escape and/or air can be broughtin, such as to keep the pocket 1406 breathable. The holes 2210 can eachinclude a greater height dimension than width dimension, such as shownin the example of FIG. 22. The height direction can be in generally thesame direction as a height of a person wearing the wearable element. Thewidth is generally perpendicular to the height. Such a configuration canallow the elastic band 2208 to stretch such as without compromisingintegrity or longevity of the band 2208. The holes 2210 can bepositioned over just a portion of the band 2208, such as a portion overthe layer 2106 or a portion thereof. The holes 2210 can alternatively bepositioned over an entire width and height of the band 2208. The band2208 illustrated is just a portion of a band so as to not obscure theview of the layers 2106, 2104, and 2102 and the external device 1402.The band 2208 will generally wrap completely around a human body so asto help apply a compressive force between the external device 1402 andthe human body and help retain the external device in place near atissue surface.

In an example, one or more mating attachment mechanisms can be providedon one or both of the external device 1402 and a layer of the pocket1406. For example, an attachment mechanism can be provided on innermostsurface of the top layers. The attachment mechanism can be mated with amating attachment mechanism on the external device 1402 or a matingattachment mechanism on a sleeve in which the external device 1402 maybe situated. Such attachment mechanisms are optional and the pocket 1406can be sufficiently elastic or stretchable and can include suchdimensions so as to keep the external device 1402 in a proper locationwith respect to the wearable element without a need for such anattachment mechanism. Attachment mechanisms can include mechanicalfastening mechanisms, such as fabric hook and loop fasteners (e.g.,VELCRO® fasteners), a magnet, a SCOTCH® fastener, or other attachmentmechanism. In an example, an attachment mechanism can be affixed to alayer or to the external device 1402 using an adhesive.

FIG. 23 illustrates, by way of example, a cross-section view diagram ofan embodiment of a system 2300 that includes the external device 1402situated in a sleeve. The sleeve as illustrated includes the top layers2306 and 2312, the bottom layers 2302 and 2304, and an attachmentmechanism 2314 on the top layer 2312. One or more of the layers caninclude or use a dielectric member having a permittivity that isapproximately the same as the relative permittivity of air.

FIG. 24A illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram ofan embodiment of a system 2400A similar to the system 2300, with thesystem 2400A including a cushion material 2416 on the bottom surface2302. The cushion material 2416 helps provide support and protect theuser from forces due to impact on the external device 1402. In anexample, the cushion material 2416 includes a dielectric member having arelative permittivity the same or similar to that of ambient air (e.g.,K=1). FIG. 24B illustrates, by way of example, a perspective viewdiagram of an embodiment of a system 2400B similar to the system 2300,with the system 2400B including the cushion material 2416 in the sleeve,such as on the bottom layer 2304 as opposed to on the bottom layer 2302as in the example of FIG. 24A.

FIG. 25 illustrates, by way of example, a cross-section view diagram ofan embodiment of a system 2500 including a sleeve with the externaldevice 1402 situated therein. The sleeve as illustrated is situatedbetween layers of the wearable element 1408, such as in the pocket 1406.In the embodiment of FIG. 25, the sleeve is affixed to the wearableelement 1408 through an attachment mechanism 2510B on the wearableelement 1408 mated with a fastening mechanism 2510A on the top layer2312. The attachment mechanisms 2510A-B as illustrated are within thewearable element 1408. Additionally, another pair of fasteningmechanisms may help affix the sleeve to the external device 1402. Onefastening mechanism can be situated on the top layer 2306 and the matingfastening mechanism can be situated on the external device 1402.

FIG. 26 illustrates, by way of example, a perspective view diagram of anembodiment of an undergarment 2600 that includes mating fasteningmechanisms 2620A and 2620B. The fastening mechanisms 2620A-B allow auser to open a bottom portion of the undergarment 2600 while wearing theundergarment 2600. Such an undergarment 2600 can help provide a way fora user to go to the bathroom without moving the external device 1402relative to the implanted device 1404. Consider that the undergarment2600 can include the pocket 1406 or other location at which the externaldevice 1402 can be affixed. Using such an undergarment, a user canuncouple the fastening mechanisms 2620A-B, do their business, recouplethe fastening mechanisms 2620A-B, and all the while retain the positionof the external device 1402 relative to the implanted device 1404. Inother embodiments, a user may have to move the undergarment 2600, thusmoving the device 1402 relative to the implanted device 1404. The usermay then reposition the external device 1402 to a communicable position(a position at which the external device communicates reliably with theimplanted device 1404). In other examples, discussed elsewhere herein,it can be desirable or beneficial to the user to remove or relocate theexternal device 1402 away from a communicable position during uservoiding.

FIG. 27 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system 2700 that includes multiple discrete external components(e.g., the external device 1402 and a battery 11442). The battery 11442is external to the external device 1402 and situated near the externaldevice 1402 in the pocket 1406 (or in the sleeve). In one or moreembodiments, the battery 11442 can be situated outside the pocket 1406or sleeve. In one or more embodiments, the battery 11442 includes one ormore of a lithium polymer battery, a generally flat, flexible battery, arechargeable battery (e.g., a wired battery charging capability or awireless battery charging capability, such as through an inductive powerlink). The battery 11442 can provide electric power to the electric andelectronic components (e.g., the internal circuitry, such as can includea transceiver 11444 and other components, such as circuitry of theexternal device, the source 102, or the like).

The location circuitry 11446 includes electric or electronic components(e.g., resistors, transistors, inductors, capacitors, diodes, sensors,logic gates, oscillators, multiplexers, antennas, radios, ADCs, DACs,speakers, or the like) that aid the user in situating the externaldevice 1402 in a proper or suitable location for data and/or powercommunication with an implanted device. The location circuitry 11446 caninclude components to determine a received signal strength (RSS) of asignal from the implanted device 1404. The RSS can be used to create atone, such as using a loudspeaker or the location circuitry 11446. Thetone created can be modulated based on the value of the RSS so as toindicate to a user a relative value of the RSS. The user can thensituate the external device 1402 at a location corresponding to arelatively high RSS (a tone that indicates a relatively high RSS). Inone or more embodiments, the location circuitry 11446 includes a buttonthat a user can press to initiate a placement operation and detectionprocess. The location circuitry 11446 can provide the user with anindication (e.g., a tone or mechanical feedback, such as a vibration orpulse). The location circuitry 11446 can beep in response to the RSSdropping below a threshold value, such as to indicate to the user thatthe external device is not properly located. The location circuitry11446 can refrain from beeping in response to determining the RSS isgreater than (or equal to) a threshold value.

FIG. 28 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system 2800 that includes a single external device (the device1402) in the pocket 1406. As is illustrated in FIG. 28, the battery11442 can be included internally to a housing of the external device1402, such as to be located between a top cover and a bottom cover ofthe housing.

FIG. 29 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a system 2900 that includes multiple discrete external devices (thedevice 1402 and other circuitry 11650) in the pocket 1406. The system11600 is similar to the system 11400, with the system 11600 including anantenna 11654 in the external device 1402, with some or all of theremaining circuitry external to the external device 1402. The antenna11654 can be a component of a transceiver of the source 102, such asalong with other circuitry. The control circuitry 11652 can beconfigured to provide one or more signals to the transceiver or antennato cause the antenna to radiate electromagnetic energy, such as to theimplanted device 1404. In one or more embodiments, the battery 11442and/or the circuitry 11650 can be housed between a top cover and abottom cover, such as to help radiate heat away from a user's body.

The antenna 11654 and/or the circuitry 11650 can provide an indicationof the location of the external device 1402 relative to the implanteddevice 1404. The circuitry 11650 can include a motor that can cause avibration to modulate as the external device 1402 gets closer to/fartherfrom the implanted device 1404. The circuitry 11650 can provide an alertto the patient if the implanted device 1404 inside the patient shiftsrelative to the external device 1402, such as can be detected bymonitoring the RSS. The frequency at which the antenna 11654 radiateselectromagnetic energy can be programmable. The circuitry 11650 canmonitor an amount of energy available from the battery 11442 and providea low battery warning (e.g., a sound or vibration) if the amount ofenergy available from the battery 11442 drops below a specifiedthreshold. The circuitry 11650 can provide an indication to turn on animplanted device 1404 for treatment. The circuitry 11650 can beconnected to a network, such as to provide alerts from a mobile phone orby email.

Devices that include a power transmitter, such as the external device1402, can “overheat” and cause discomfort or burn human skin unless theyare carefully designed, especially when the device needs to be near thehuman body to operate properly. Data from at least one study indicates a“safe” heat absorption level of approximately 40 mW/cm². Near theoverheating point, skin temperature increases approximately 0.80° C. foreach additional 10 mW/cm² of absorbed power. During normal operation,the external device 1402 heats as a side effect of performing itsintended function. Touching a heated device to human skin initiates athermal transient transfer followed by a steady state. Using a pocket orsleeve around a device, or a device including an external housing, asdiscussed herein, such as can be used along with a device configured totransfer heat away from the body, can avoid user discomfort and/or skinburns.

Considering steady-state and to verify thermal safety, a designer canplace a finished device in ambient air, heat the device to steady state,measure a device's surface temperature, and compare the surfacetemperature to a “known-safe” temperature, such as 41° C. If themeasured temperature is less than the “known-safe” or thresholdtemperature, the designer can conclude that the device will not causepain or burning of the skin. Although checking the thermal safety of adevice by comparing the surface temperature to the “known safe”temperature may be convenient, the following factors may limit itsapplicability: 1) when compared to human skin, the ambient airpresumably provides a higher thermal resistance to heat moving from thetested device; and 2) the higher thermal resistance forces the device toreach a higher temperature than it reaches when in direct contact to amaterial or skin. Using ambient air, the thermal load likely producesconservative test results. However, device performance generallyimproves with increasing power dissipation, so the test may beunjustifiably conservative. Knowing skin-temperature response and theheat output per area of the external device 1402, the resulting skintemperature can be calculated without calculating or measuring an actualdevice temperature.

A problem solved by one or more embodiments discussed in this subsectioncan include an external device with a form factor that will convenientlyand discreetly situate an external power transmitter over a desiredanatomy (at a desired location). Another problem solved by one or moreembodiments discussed in this subsection can include an external housingfor the power transmitter that will not burn, heat, and/or generally befelt by the patient.

The form factor can include an undergarment with a pocket or othermechanism in which an external device can be situated near the desiredanatomy and therefore the implanted device. An external powertransmitter device and/or pocket/sleeve can dissipate heat produced bypower transmitter away from the body. The external form factor caninclude the wearable element, a battery to power the external device1402, an antenna and other related electronics, a housing for theantenna and circuitry, and/or a sleeve or pocket in which to situate thehousing.

As previously discussed, human skin can be sensitive to the heatdissipated through a surface of the device. Accordingly, the skin orsurface temperature of the external device or other components near thehuman body can be an important constraint. Temperatures at one or moresurfaces of an external device may become too hot to touch, thus leadingto an uncomfortable user experience. For example, a high temperature ata housing surface may cause a user to stop using the device altogether.Further, high temperature surfaces can become a safety hazard due tolocalized skin burning or irritation. Thus, reducing a maximumtemperature of an external device can be an important consideration.

An advantage of one or more embodiments can include an increased usercomfort, for example when a user wears the external device using agarment or other wearable element or accessory. The systems discussedherein can be actively ventilated with heat and moisture regulation,such as can include air and water vapor permeability, rapid moistureabsorption and conveyance capacity, absence of dampness, rapid drying,and/or low water absorption of the layer of material positioned adjacentto the skin. The systems discussed herein can have dimensional stabilityeven when wet, can be made or durable or resilient materials, can berelatively easy to clean, can be lightweight, soft, and generallypleasant to the touch. The systems can include a high heat transfercharacteristic away from the human body.

In accordance with several embodiments, the external device 1402 can bepositioned (that is, retained in a chronic or static position relativeto the body) above the left or right S3 foramen using a garment orwearable element. The S3 foramina are usually located about 11 cm fromthe anal verge or 9 cm cephalad to the tip of the coccyx. The S3foramina are usually located 1.5-2 cm lateral to the midline at thelevel of the sacral notches or about 9 cm above the coccygeal drop-off.The external device 1402 can include the location circuitry 11446 thatwill help the patient determine when the external device 1402 is placedover a proper location. The S3 foramina are located generally one fingerbreadth above and below the S4 and S2 foramina, respectively. In anexample, a garment configured to hold or position the external device1402 can be provided in multiple sizes to accommodate different userbody types and sizes. In an example, relative dimensions of the garmentcan be adjusted depending on body type. For example, a distance betweena waistband of an underpants garment and an external device pocket canbe different between large and small versions of the garment to betterposition the pocket, and therefore the external device 1402, relative toa target by S3.

The external device 1402, such as can include the battery 11442 and/orother circuitry, can be placed in a garment pocket or in a sleeve thatincludes layers similar to those discussed herein. A polymer coating canbe used to line an inside of a sleeve or pocket, such as to make itwaterproof. In one or more embodiments, Layer 5 can include a type ofcompression/elastic band in order to compress or bias the externaldevice 1402 toward a desired location relative to a body feature when agarment comprising the pocket or sleeve is worn. The compression bandcan be integrated into the wearable element. The compression band caninclude conduits (holes) large enough to allow for heat dissipation. Thecompression band can have multiple channels or channels of differentsizes. The compression band can have a variety of elasticity properties.The compression band can be about 0.5 mm-2 mm thick (e.g., 0.5-1 mm, 1mm-1.5 mm, 1.5 mm-2 mm, 1 mm-2 mm, 0.5 mm-1.5 mm, overlapping rangesthereof, or any value within the recited ranges). The compression bandcan include conduits (e.g., holes) that are larger in a y direction(e.g., parallel to a height of a user) compared to an x-direction (e.g.,perpendicular to the height of the user). Such a configuration can helpconserve an elasticity of the band, while allowing for ventilation inthe band.

In one or more embodiments there may be more than one pocket 1406, suchas to provide a means to place an external device, such as for multipledifferent implanted device locations in one garment. In one or moreembodiments, there can be a single pocket for the external device 1402.The pocket can be configured to be positioned above the sciatic notch.The pocket can span a width starting from about 30 mm lateral from thecenter of the left S3 foramen to about 30 mm right from the center of S3foramen. In one or more embodiments, the pocket can have a total widthof about 140 mm (about 70 mm to the right of the midline, and about 70mm to the left of the midline). Other dimensions may be used as desiredand/or required (e.g., length of between 60 mm and 200 mm, between 60 mmand 100 mm, between 70 mm and 150 mm, between 90 mm and 180 mm, between100 mm and 160 mm, between 120 mm and 180 mm, between 130 mm and 150 mm,between 140 mm and 200 mm, overlapping ranges thereof, or any valuewithin the recited ranges). In one or more embodiments, there can be aleft pocket and a right pocket, each above and on opposite sides of thesciatic notch, such as can include a back pocket on the back left sideabove the left S3 foramen and another back pocket that sits directlyabove the S3 foramen. Each pocket can be about 60 mm in width by 60 mmin height. Other dimensions or shapes may be used as desired and/orrequired (e.g., 50 mm×50 mm, 70 mm×70 mm, 60 mm×50 mm, 50 mm×60 mm).

As previously discussed, mechanisms can be used to keep the externaldevice 1402 at a proper location within the pocket 1406. Such mechanismscan help intermittent users remove the external device 1402 and replacethe external device 1402, such as without compromising functionality ofthe external device 1402 or the implantable device 1404. The attachmentmechanisms discussed herein can include, among other things, amechanical fastener such as a fabric hook and loop fastener (e.g., aVELCRO® fastener), a SCOTCH® fastener, or magnets on the unit to secureto a corresponding fastener (e.g., another VELCRO® fastener in thepocket, a zipper, gussets, bellows, layers with off-set slits, or extramaterial that folds over the pocket 1406 can be used to close off thepocket 1406 from the external environment. A bottom layer of a pocket orsleeve can be covered with a sticky or tacky material, such as to helphold the device in place and/or to keep the pocket closed. The Layer 2and/or Layer 3 can be at least partially covered in arubber/silicone/sticky type gel or similar to help hold the externaldevice 1402 in place. The wearable element can be placed over theexternal device 1402 with rubber/gel lining the whole pocket to hold theexternal device 1402 in place. In an example, a sleeve for the externaldevice 1402 can include spandex or SPANX® material that can cover theexternal device 1402. The sleeve for the external device 1402 caninclude a flap, such as to help encapsulate or retain the externaldevice 1402 in a specified location relative to a garment.

In one or more embodiments, a system can include a wearable elementconfigured to be worn by a patient, and having an external devicecoupled thereto and configured to send and/or receive a wireless signalto communicate with an implanted device. The wearable element caninclude an attachment mechanism to situate the external device near(e.g., directly above, below, or to the side of) the S3 foramen so theexternal device will be in proximity to the implantable element. Theexternal device 1402 can be placed at multiple locations on the wearableelement. The external device 1402 can include an antenna positionable inproximity to the implanted device and configured to receive data fromthe implanted device or send power to the implanted device 1404. Theexternal device 1402 can include location circuitry that provides anaudible or tactile indication of the proper location of the externaldevice 1402 on the wearable element. The external device 1402 can be afirst external device and the system can include a second externaldevice, wherein the first and second external devices are coupled to oneanother and positionable at multiple locations on the wearable elementat a distance apart from one another. The second external device can beconfigured to provide power to the first external device. The secondexternal device can include a flexible battery adapted to flex inresponse to motion of a user wearing the flexible battery. The wearableelement can include one or more elastic straps. The wearable element canaccommodate a variety of patient sizes and shapes. The wearable elementcan include one or more of an undergarment, a pouch, a belt, and anadhesive patch. The wearable element can include at least one pocketformed therein. In one or more embodiments, the at least one pocket canbe movable relative to the wearable element.

Examples of different shapes, sizes, and styles of wearable elementsinclude tight or non-tight shorts, such as mid-thigh shorts, high-thighshorts, high-waist shorts, and/or mid-thigh shorts, briefs, such ashigh-waist briefs and/or retro briefs, hipsters, such as hi-hipsterpanty, panty boy shorts, and/or girl shorts, thongs, such ashigh-waisted thong, a bodysuit, such as an open bust bodysuit, a closedbust bodysuit, and/or a mid-thigh bodysuit suit, and pantyhose, such asa high waist and/or a no-show panty hose.

Some patients may not need or use constant stimulation from an implanteddevice, but can use stimulation intermittently from the external device1402 to the implanted device 1404. This can be due, at least in part, tocarryover effects of the electrostimulation. For example, a patient mayonly need stimulation one hour every 24 hours for continued efficacy ofthe therapy. What follows is some aspects surrounding an external devicewith design features specific to intermittent stimulation.

Sleepwear can include a pocket as discussed herein, such as forintermittent or constant treatment. The control circuitry can include atimer. The control circuitry can provide an indication to the user(noise, vibration, pulse, or other indication) in response to the timerbeginning or expiring, such that the user can know how long to wear theexternal device 1402. The control circuitry can track a dosage thepatient has received. The control circuitry can calculate a decay of thedosage to inform the patient when a subsequent stimulation dose is to beadministered.

The external device 1402 can inform the user how long the device hasbeen stimulating or has been turned on, such as through the controlcircuitry. The control circuitry can automatically stop providingelectrical power to the antenna in response to determining anappropriate stimulation “dosage” has been achieved.

The control circuitry can let a user know when the stimulation willbegin and end, such as through noises and/or vibrations. The controlcircuitry can alert the user to indicate when the user is to remove theexternal device 1402 and/or when the user is to place the externaldevice 1402 near the implanted device 1404. The control circuitry canremind or provide an alarm to a user to indicate that the user shouldput the external device 1402 near the implanted device 1404, such as inresponse to determining the external device 1402 is not sufficientlyclose to the implanted device 1404. In one or more embodiments, thecontrol circuitry may constantly remind the user until the externaldevice 1402 is correctly placed for stimulation. The reminder can have a“snooze” feature such as to remind the user after a specific amount oftime has elapsed. The control circuitry can include a BlueTooth®,Wi-Fi®, Zigbee®, or other short range connection circuitry that caninterface with a phone, through which a user can program the controlcircuitry, such as to customize alarm settings.

There can be a setting for a user who wears the external device 1402 allday regardless of whether the stimulation is on or off. The externaldevice 1402, such as through the control circuitry, can inform thepatient when stimulation begins, ends, and/or a duration of stimulation.The external device 1402 can send an alert (e.g., an email, text, orother audible, visual or textual reminder) that a user can access via amobile device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, computer via a softwareapplication program or a web browser). The alert may be sent by sendingdata over a wireless network. There can be a setting to insert thereminder on the user's calendar, such as through the control circuitry.

The external device 1402 can provide various audible alerts to indicatedifferent alarms. These alarms can be programed through a softwareapplication (app) on a mobile device (e.g., smartphone or computingdevice). The external device can be allowed to store a certain amount ofdata in its memory before it would have to be connected to the mobiledevice (e.g., mobile phone), software application on the mobile device,or network, such as to upload the data before it is overwritten. Thememory can track how long, for how many days, hours, etc. a user hasreceived stimulation from an implanted device, such as by using thesoftware application. The external source 102 can be pre-programmed witha selection of therapy regimes, such that the user can select using thesoftware application. The user defined regimes may also be customized bythe user, such as to allow the user to define their own timing settings,reminders, sounds, vibrations, power on, power off, settings,stimulation schedule, etc.

The control circuitry can include a safety feature which preventsover-heating of the external device 1402, such as can include monitoringa temperature of the external device 1402 itself and removing power tothe external device 1402 if a threshold temperature is met or exceeded.

A password or other security mechanism can be required by the controlcircuitry 11652 or the app in order to adjust stimulation settings, suchas power of stimulation, duration, etc. of the stimulation. The controlcircuitry 11652 can include device can include a Light Emitting Diode(LED) or other light that can be red or green, or whichever color toindicate the device is on, off, or searching for the implanted device,for example.

FIG. 30 illustrates generally, by way of example, a diagram of anembodiment of a system 3000 for selectively providing power and/or datacommunication to multiple target devices using a remote RF source and amidfield device. The system 3000 includes a remote field source 3020, anexternal device 3005, and multiple target devices, such as can includeimplantable or implanted midfield devices. The external device 3005 canbe configured to receive a field or an electromagnetic remote signalfrom the remote field source 3020, modulate the received signal, and inresponse communicate power and/or data signals to one or both of a firsttarget device 3011 and the second target device 3012. That is, theexternal device 3005 can be configured to manipulate an evanescent fieldat or near an external tissue surface to direct transmission of wirelesspower and/or data signals within the tissue, such as to the first and/orsecond target device 3011 and 3012. The external device 3005 can beconfigured to communicate the power and/or data signals to a targetdevice concurrently or asynchronously with receiving the remote signalfrom the remote field source 3020.

The remote field source 3020 can be configured to provide anelectromagnetic field or remote RF signal (herein, “remote signal”) thatcan be received and/or modulated by the external device 3005. The remotefield source 3020 can include an RF generator circuitry 3022 that isconfigured to generate one or more RF signals based on instructions froma control circuitry 3021. The control circuitry 3021 can provide signalparameter information to the RF generator circuitry 3022, such as caninclude amplitude, frequency, phase, waveform morphology, or othersignal parameter information. The remote field source 3020 can furtherinclude a memory circuitry 3024 or clock circuitry 3025 in datacommunication with one or more of the control circuitry 3021 and RFgenerator circuitry 3022, such as to store the signal parameterinformation and/or to trigger signal generation. In one or moreembodiments, the remote field source 3020 includes a feedback controlcircuitry 3023 that can use the control circuitry 3021 to change one ormore signal parameters and thereby change a characteristic of the remotesignal that is provided. In one or more embodiments, the remote fieldsource 3020 includes multiple RF outputs, and the multiple outputs canbe excited independently. The multiple outputs can be excitedconcurrently or at separate times. In one or more embodiments, eachoutput is coupled to a different phase shifter 3026A-3026D that can beused to change a characteristic of the outputted remote signal. Othersignal-modifying elements can be included at or before the outputs, suchas amplifier or attenuator circuitry.

The external device 3005 can include various hardware structures thatare configured to receive a portion of the remote signal from the remotefield source 3020 and, in response, transmit one or more differentsignals to the target devices. The external device 3005 can receive farfield energy, such as from the remote field source 3020, and can use atleast a portion of the received energy to manipulate an evanescent fieldand direct a power and/or data signal to a target device. In one or moreembodiments, the external device 3005 includes control circuitry thatharvests at least a portion of the energy received from the remote fieldsource 3020 and controls one or more tunable devices 3006. The tunabledevices 3006 can be used to change a characteristic of an input orreceiver circuitry, such as to facilitate reception of the remote signalfrom the remote field source 3020. The tunable devices 3006 can be usedto change a characteristic of an output or transmitter circuitry, suchas to change a characteristic of a power and/or data signal transmittedfrom the external device 3005 to one of the first and second targetdevices 3011 and 3012. In one or more embodiments, the external device3005 includes a transceiver circuitry 3007 configured to relay datacommunications between the remote field source 3020 and one or moretarget devices.

The remote field source 3020 can provide or broadcast the remote signalover a field interval Δt0. In response, the external device 3005 cancommunicate power and/or data to the first and/or second target devices3011 and 3012 over first through fourth sequential intervals Δt1-Δt4.The field interval Δt0 can optionally at least partially overlap in timewith one or more of the first through fourth intervals Δt1-Δt4. Othertransmission interval schemes can similarly be used. In U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/770,032, incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety (see above), the discussion of FIG. 84 includes an example ofusing a remote field source and the external device to communicatemultiple signals to different target devices.

In one or more embodiments, the external device 3005 and/or the remotefield source 3020 can include or use a sensor, such as the sensor 107 inthe example of FIG. 1. Information from the sensor can be used by theexternal device 3005 and/or by the remote field source 3020 to update asignal characteristic or therapy parameter.

FIG. 31 illustrates, by way of example, a schematic of an embodiment ofthe external device 3005 (sometimes referred to as a midfield coupler,external source, or external device) with multiple tunable devices 3006.The external device 3005 is provided above an interface between adielectric 3104, such as air or a dielectric insert or other dielectricmember, and a high-index material 3106, such as body tissue. In one ormore embodiments, the external device 3005 can be conceptualized as alens that receives an electromagnetic signal and focuses or directs thereceived signal in a specified and controlled manner. The externaldevice 3005 and/or the dielectric 3104 can be provided in or on awearable element or garment near the high-index material 3106. One ormore intervening layers of a garment material can be interposed betweenthe external device 3005 and the dielectric 3104, or between thedielectric 3104 and the high-index material 3106. In an example, thedielectric 3104 is configured to have substantially the same relativepermittivity as air.

The external device 3005 can include one or more subwavelengthstructures configured to receive an input RF signal (e.g., a far-fieldRF signal), and can include the same or other subwavelength structuresconfigured to transmit one or more output RF signals to influence anevanescent wave at a tissue surface and thereby communicate power and/ordata to one or more target devices, such as devices located in or beyondthe high-index material 3106.

The tunable devices 3006 can include various passive or active devicesthat can be used to change an electrical signal characteristic. Someexamples of a tunable element include a capacitor, resistor, inductor,amplifier circuitry, phase modulation circuitry, or other element,device, or circuitry that can be configured to receive an electricalsignal and, in response, provide a different or updated electricalsignal.

In one or more embodiments, the external device 3005 includes controlcircuitry that controls parameters of the tunable devices 3006. Forexample, the control circuitry can be configured to change a capacitanceof a capacitor element in the external device 3005 to change an RFoutput signal characteristic. In one or more embodiments, the controlcircuitry is powered using a portion of an RF signal received at theexternal device 3005 from the remote field source 3020. The controlcircuitry can include components similar to, or the same as theprocessor circuitry 210, digital controller 548, or other controlcircuitry discussed herein.

In one or more embodiments, the external device 3005 includes memorycircuitry (not shown in FIG. 31) that can be used to store parameterinformation for the tunable devices 3006. In one or more embodiments,the memory circuitry (e.g., nonvolatile, read-only, and/or flash memory)stores configuration information for the external device 3005, and theconfiguration information can include reference parameter informationfor the tunable devices 3006, historical parameter value information forthe tunable devices 3006, or other information regarding a configurationor operating status of the external device 3005, the remote field source3020, or one or more remote target devices.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/770,032, incorporated herein byreference in its entirety (see above), the illustration and discussionof FIG. 116 provide an example of a method that includes using differentsignal characteristics to communicate power and/or data signals todifferent target devices at different times. In the example of FIG. 116,the external device can receive a remote field signal over a fieldinterval Δt0. The remote field signal can include power and/or data foruse by an external device to facilitate communication from the externaldevice to at least first and second target devices (e.g., implanted orimplantable midfield receiver devices). FIG. 116 illustrates a series ofsignals, including first, second, third, and fourth signals S1, S2, S3,and S4, respectively, that are sequentially transmitted from theexternal device to one or the other of first and second target devices.FIG. 116 illustrates how various ones of the tunable devices (e.g.,tunable devices 3006 from the example of FIG. 30 in the instantdocument) or elements can be configured during different signaltransmission intervals. By selecting different parameter values for thevarious elements (e.g., Elements 1-4 in the example of FIG. 116 of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/770,032), the external device can beconfigured to receive different remote field signals and/or to transmitdifferent signals to one or more target devices by differentlymodulating an evanescent field.

FIG. 32 illustrates, by way of example, a diagram of an embodiment of asystem 3200 that includes multiple external midfield transceivers (e.g.,multiple source devices). For example, the system 3200 includes a firstexternal source 102A and a separate second external source 102B. Each ofthe first and second external sources 102A and 102B can have arespective antenna, such as a first antenna 300A and a second antenna300B. The first and second antennas 300A and 300B can have the same orsimilar features as in one or more of the other external source devicesdescribed herein.

Both of the first and second external midfield antennas 300A and 300Bcan be configured to transmit power and/or data signals to the firsttarget device 3011. In one or more embodiments, both of the first andsecond antennas 300A and 300B are configured to transmit a separatepower signal to the first target device 3011 concurrently, that is,during a common interval Δt. In one or more embodiments, the transmittedpower signals from the first and second antennas 300A and 300B areselected to interfere constructively and a resulting or combined fieldis received by the first target device 3011. In one or more embodiments,the first and second antennas 300A and 300B comprise two of multipleexternal transceivers arranged as a mesh network, wherein each of themultiple external transceivers is configured to exchange data to helpcoordinate power transfers or data transfers to the first target device3011 or to other devices.

In an example, the first and second external sources 102A and 102B canbe provided near a tissue surface using a wearable element or garmentthat is configured to hold or position multiple source devices. In anexample, the wearable element includes multiple pockets provided atdifferent body locations when the element is worn by a user, and eachpocket can be configured to receive and retain a different externalsource device. Each pocket can be configured to include, or to beadjacent to, a dielectric member or dielectric insert provided between abody tissue surface and an external source.

FIG. 33 illustrates, by way of example, a block diagram of an embodimentof a machine 3300 with which one or more methods discussed herein can beperformed or in conjunction with one or more systems or devicesdescribed herein may be used. In one or more embodiments, theimplantable device 110, the source 102, the sensor 107, the processorcircuitry 210, the digital controller 548, circuitry in the circuitryhousing, system control circuitry, power management circuitry, acontroller, stimulation circuitry, energy harvest circuitry,synchronization circuitry, the external device, control circuitry,feedback control circuitry, the implanted device, location circuitry,other circuitry of the implantable device, and/or circuitry that is apart of or connected to the external source, can include one or more ofthe items of the machine 3300. The machine 3300, according to someexample embodiments, is able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and toperform any one or more of the methodologies, one or more operations ofthe methodologies, or one or more circuitry functions discussed herein,such as the methods described with regard to FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C, and/or18D. For example, FIG. 33 shows a diagrammatic representation of themachine 3300 in the example form of a computer system, within whichinstructions 3316 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet,an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine 3300 toperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein can beexecuted. The instructions transform the general, non-programmed machineinto a particular machine programmed to carry out the described andillustrated functions in the manner described. In alternativeembodiments, the machine 3300 operates as a standalone device or can becoupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment,the machine 3300 can operate in the capacity of a server machine or aclient machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peermachine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Variousportions of the machine 3300 can be included in, or used with, one ormore of the external source 102 and the implantable device 110. In oneor more embodiments, different instantiations or different physicalhardware portions of the machine 3300 are separately implanted at theexternal source 102 and the implantable device 110.

In one or more embodiments, the machine 3300 can comprise, but is notlimited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, asmart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), asmart home device (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a webappliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or anymachine capable of executing the instructions 3316, sequentially orotherwise, that specify actions to be taken by machine 3300. Further,while only a single machine 3300 is illustrated, the term “machine”shall also be taken to include a collection of machines 3300 thatindividually or jointly execute the instructions 3316 to perform any oneor more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The machine 3300 can include processors 3310, memory 3330, or I/Ocomponents 3350, which can be configured to communicate with each othersuch as via a bus 3302. In one or more embodiments embodiment, theprocessors 3310 (e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a ReducedInstruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a Complex Instruction SetComputing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a DigitalSignal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuitry(ASIC), a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuitry (RFIC), anotherprocessor, or any suitable combination thereof) can include, forexample, processor 3312 and processor 3314 that can execute instructions3316. The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processorsthat can include two or more independent processors (sometimes referredto as “cores”) that can execute instructions contemporaneously. AlthoughFIG. 33 shows multiple processors, the machine 3300 can include a singleprocessor with a single core, a single processor with multiple cores(e.g., a multi-core process), multiple processors with a single core,multiple processors with multiples cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory/storage 3330 can include a memory 3332, such as a mainmemory, or other memory storage, and a storage unit 3336, bothaccessible to the processors 3310 such as via the bus 3302. The storageunit 3336 and memory 3332 store the instructions 3316 embodying any oneor more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Theinstructions 3316 can also reside, completely or partially, within thememory 3332, within the storage unit 3336, within at least one of theprocessors 3310 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or anysuitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine3300. Accordingly, the memory 3332, the storage unit 3336, and thememory of processors 3310 are examples of machine-readable media.

As used herein, “machine-readable medium” means a device able to storeinstructions and data temporarily or permanently and can include, but isnot be limited to, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),buffer memory, flash memory, optical media, magnetic media, cachememory, other types of storage (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-OnlyMemory (EEPROM)) and/or any suitable combination thereof. The term“machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, orassociated caches and servers) able to store instructions 3316. The term“machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium, orcombination of multiple media, that is capable of storing instructions(e.g., instructions 3316) for execution by a machine (e.g., machine3300), such that the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the machine 3300 (e.g., processors 3310), cause themachine 3300 to perform any one or more of the methodologies describedherein. Accordingly, a “machine-readable medium” refers to a singlestorage apparatus or device, as well as “cloud-based” storage systems orstorage networks that include multiple storage apparatus or devices. Theterm “machine-readable medium” excludes signals per se.

The I/O components 3350 can include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 3350 that are included in a particular machine will depend onthe type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobilephones will likely include a touch input device or other such inputmechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include sucha touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components3350 can include many other components that are not shown. The I/Ocomponents 3350 are grouped according to functionality merely forsimplifying the following discussion and the grouping is in no waylimiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 3350 caninclude output components 3352 and input components 3354. The outputcomponents 3352 can include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and soforth. The input components 3354 can include alphanumeric inputcomponents (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumericinput components), point based input components (e.g., a mouse, atouchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointinginstrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touchscreen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures,or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., amicrophone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 3350 can includebiometric components 3356, motion components 3358, environmentalcomponents 3360, or position components 3362 among a wide array of othercomponents. For example, the biometric components 3356 can includecomponents to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measurephysiologic signals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves, neural activity, or muscle activity),identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinal identification,facial identification, fingerprint identification, orelectroencephalogram based identification), and the like.

The motion components 3358 can include acceleration sensor components(e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, rotation sensorcomponents (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth. In one or more embodiments,one or more of the motion components 3358 can be incorporated with theexternal source 102 or the implantable device 110, and can be configuredto detect motion or a physical activity level of a patient. Informationabout the patient's motion can be used in various ways, for example, toadjust a signal transmission characteristic (e.g., amplitude, frequency,etc.) when a physical relationship between the external source 102 andthe implantable device 110 changes or shifts.

The environmental components 3360 can include, for example, illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat can provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment. The position components 3362 caninclude location sensor components (e.g., a Global Position System (GPS)receiver component), altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters orbarometers that detect air pressure from which altitude can be derived),orientation sensor components (e.g., magnetometers), and the like. Inone or more embodiments, the I/O component(s) 3350 can be a part of theimplantable device 110 and/or the external source 102.

Communication can be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 3350 can include communication components 3364operable to couple the machine 3300 to a network 3380 or devices 3370via coupling 3382 and coupling 3372 respectively. For example, thecommunication components 3364 can include a network interface componentor other suitable device to interface with the network 3380. In furtherexamples, communication components 3364 can include wired communicationcomponents, wireless communication components, cellular communicationcomponents, Near Field (nearfield) Communication (NFC) components,midfield communication components, farfield communication components,and other communication components to provide communication via othermodalities. The devices 3370 can be another machine or any of a widevariety of peripheral devices.

Moreover, the communication components 3364 can detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 3364 can include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information can be derived via the communication components3364, such as, location via Internet Protocol (IP) geo-location,location via Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFCbeacon signal that can indicate a particular location, and so forth. Inan example, the verification device 1701 can include or use one or moreof the communication components 3364.

In some embodiments, the systems comprise various features that arepresent as single features (as opposed to multiple features). Forexample, in one embodiment, the system includes a single external sourceand a single implantable device or stimulation device with a singleantenna. Multiple features or components are provided in alternateembodiments. In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more ofthe following: means for tissue stimulation (e.g., an implantablestimulation device), means for powering (e.g., a midfield poweringdevice or midfield coupler), means for receiving (e.g., a receiver),means for transmitting (e.g., a transmitter), means for controlling(e.g., a processor or control unit), or means for receiving andpositioning an external transmitter device proximal to an implanteddevice, etc.

The following Aspects provide a non-limiting overview of the garments,garment features, systems, and methods for controlling therapy discussedherein.

Aspect 1 can include or use subject matter (such as an apparatus, asystem, a device, a method, a means for performing acts, or a devicereadable medium including instructions that, when performed by thedevice, can cause the device to perform acts, or an article ofmanufacture), such as can include or use a garment for receiving andpositioning an external transmitter device proximal to an implanteddevice. In Aspect 1, the garment can include a garment body comprising aflexible material, wherein the flexible material has a first relativepermittivity characteristic, a first receptacle coupled with, orcomprising a portion of, the garment body and configured to receive andposition the external transmitter device near a tissue interface whenthe garment is worn by a user, and a dielectric portion provided betweenthe first receptacle and the tissue interface, wherein the dielectricportion has a second relative permittivity characteristic, wherein thesecond relative permittivity characteristic is approximately the same asthe relative permittivity of air and is different from the firstrelative permittivity characteristic of the flexible material.

Aspect 2 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 1, to optionally include or use the dielectricportion including a compressible material having a relative permittivitythat is approximately the same as the relative permittivity of air whenthe material is compressed or uncompressed.

Aspect 3 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 or 2 to optionallyinclude or use the dielectric portion including a polychloroprene rubberhaving a relative permittivity that is approximately the same as therelative permittivity of air when the polychloroprene rubber iscompressed or uncompressed.

Aspect 4 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 3 tooptionally include or use a second receptacle adjacent to the firstreceptacle and configured to receive the dielectric portion.

Aspect 5 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 4, to optionally include or use the first andsecond receptacles configured to share a common sidewall.

Aspect 6 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 5 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion dimensioned to separatethe first receptacle from the tissue interface by at least a specifiedminimum separation distance, the specified minimum separation distanceselected to avoid exceeding a defined maximum loading on a transmissionantenna of the external transmitter device.

Aspect 7 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 6 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion dimensioned to separatethe first receptacle from the tissue interface by at least a specifiedminimum separation distance, the specified minimum separation distanceselected to reduce a rate at which electromagnetic energy is absorbed bypatient tissue at or near the tissue interface.

Aspect 8 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 7 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion configured to inhibitheat transfer from the first receptacle to the tissue interface.

Aspect 9 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 8 tooptionally include or use the first receptacle including at least afirst wall provided adjacent to the dielectric portion, and wherein thefirst wall and the dielectric portion have different relativepermittivity characteristics.

Aspect 10 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 9, to optionally include or use the first wallcomprising one or more of a woven fabric, non-woven fabric, mesh, ornylon material.

Aspect 11 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 10 tooptionally include or use the garment body including an elasticwaistband or chest band coupled to the first receptacle.

Aspect 12 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 11, to optionally include or use a waistband,wherein the waistband is configured to position the first receptacle ator near an S3 foramen when the garment is worn by the user.

Aspect 13 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 11, to optionally include or use the elasticwaistband or chest band having thermally conductive fibers configured tosink heat energy from the first receptacle.

Aspect 14 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 13 tooptionally include or use a verification device, wherein theverification device communicates with the external transmitter device toenable one or more functions of the external transmitter device.

Aspect 15 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 14, to optionally include or use theverification device including an RFID tag.

Aspect 16 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 1 through 15 tooptionally include or use the receptacle including one or morethrough-holes configured to receive respective electrodes protrudingfrom the external transmitter device toward a body tissue surface.

Aspect 17 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with anyportion or combination of any portions of any one or more of Aspects 1through 16 to include or use a system that includes an external midfieldtransmitter device with one or more structures excitable by a voltage orcurrent source to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue togenerate a propagating and focused field in the tissue and therebycommunicate power and/or data signals from the external midfieldtransmitter device to the implanted midfield receiver device. In Aspect17, the system can include a garment comprising at least one receptacleconfigured to receive the external midfield transmitter device andposition it near a tissue interface, and a dielectric portion providedbetween the receptacle and the tissue interface, wherein a dielectricpermittivity characteristic of the dielectric portion is approximatelythe same as the relative permittivity of air.

Aspect 18 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 17, to optionally include or use the receptacleincluding at least a first wall provided adjacent to the dielectricportion, and wherein the first wall and the dielectric portion havedifferent relative permittivity characteristics.

Aspect 19 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 or 18 tooptionally include or use the garment including an underwear garmentconfigured to be worn at or about the waist of a patient, and whereinthe receptacle is configured to position the external midfieldtransmitter device at a lower spine region of the patient when theunderwear garment is worn by the patient.

Aspect 20 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 19, to optionally include or use one or moresignals from the external midfield transmitter device configured tocontrol delivery of an electrostimulation therapy from the implantedmidfield receiver device to a neural target in a pelvic region of thepatient.

Aspect 21 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 19, to optionally include or use the externalmidfield transmitter device is configured to cause the implantedmidfield receiver device to provide a therapy to the patient when thegarment is worn by the patient, the therapy configured to inhibit orinterfere with patient urination when the garment is worn.

Aspect 22 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 21, to optionally include or use the garmentconfigured to be displaced away from the waist of the patient when thepatient urinates to thereby interrupt the therapy.

Aspect 23 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 19 through 22 tooptionally include or use the external midfield transmitter deviceconfigured to cause the implanted midfield receiver device to provide atherapy to the patient only when (1) the garment is worn by the patient,(2) the receptacle retains the external midfield transmitter device, and(3) the external midfield transmitter actively communicates the powerand/or data signals to the implanted midfield receiver device, andwherein the therapy is configured to inhibit or interfere with patienturination.

Aspect 24 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 23 tooptionally include or use the external midfield transmitter deviceconfigured to coordinate a chronic stimulation therapy provided by theimplanted midfield receiver device to a target region at or near thepudendal nerve, the genitofemoral nerve, or the sciatic nerve.

Aspect 25 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 24 tooptionally include or use the external midfield transmitter deviceincluding circuitry configured to determine whether a minimum powertransmission efficiency exists between the external midfield transmitterdevice and the implanted midfield receiver device.

Aspect 26 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 25 tooptionally include or use the external midfield transmitter deviceincluding circuitry configured to determine a garment status includingwhether the garment is being worn by a patient and the circuitry isconfigured to enable or disable a patient therapy based on thedetermined garment status.

Aspect 27 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 26, to optionally include or use the circuitryconfigured to determine a garment status including a position sensor.

Aspect 28 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 27 tooptionally include or use the external midfield transmitter deviceincluding control circuitry configured to determine whether a patientvoiding event is about to occur, and, when the control circuitrydetermines that a patient voiding event is about to occur, then thecontrol circuitry is configured to inhibit delivery of a neuralstimulation therapy from the implanted midfield receiver device.

Aspect 29 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 28 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion including acompressible neoprene insert having approximately the same relativepermittivity as air.

Aspect 30 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 17 through 29 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion is configured toseparate the receptacle from the tissue interface by at least aspecified minimum separation distance, the specified minimum separationdistance selected to (1) reduce loading on the one or more excitablestructures of the external midfield transmitter device, or (2) reduce arate at which electromagnetic energy is absorbed by the tissue at ornear the tissue interface.

Aspect 31 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with anyportion or combination of any portions of any one or more of Aspects 1through 30 to include or use, a method for controlling delivery ofneural stimulation therapy using a system that includes an implantedmidfield device and external midfield transmitter device, wherein theexternal midfield transmitter device includes one or more structuresexcitable to manipulate evanescent fields outside of tissue to generatea propagating and focused field in the tissue and thereby communicatepower and/or data signals to the implanted midfield device, wherein theimplanted midfield device includes one or more electrodes for deliveringan electrostimulation therapy to a neural target, and the deliveredtherapy uses, at least in part, energy received from the externalmidfield transmitter device. In Aspect 31, the method can includepositioning the external midfield transmitter device at or near a tissueinterface and the implanted midfield device using a garment, usingenergy received from the external midfield transmitter device, providinga stimulation therapy at or near a neural target in a pelvic region of apatient using the implanted midfield device, and determining, using acontrol circuit, whether a voiding event is, or is likely to be,imminent or occurring for the patient. Aspect 31 can further includeenhancing voiding efficiency for the patient, including inhibiting orceasing the stimulation therapy provided to the neural target when thevoiding event is determined to be, or is determined to be likely to be,imminent or occurring for the patient.

Aspect 32 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 31, to optionally include or use thedetermining whether the voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminentor occurring for the patient, including using the control circuit todetermine a void interval for the patient based on information from oneor more sensors configured to determine a fullness characteristic aboutthe patient's bladder.

Aspect 33 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 31 through 32 tooptionally include or use the determining whether the voiding event is,or is likely to be, imminent or occurring for the patient, includingusing the control circuit to identify noncommunication between theexternal midfield transmitter device and the implanted midfield device.

Aspect 34 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 31 through 33 tooptionally include or use the determining whether the voiding event is,or is likely to be, imminent or occurring for the patient, includingusing a control circuit provided in one or both of the implantedmidfield device and the external midfield transmitter device.

Aspect 35 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 34, to optionally include or use thedetermining whether the voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminentor occurring for the patient, including using information from aposition sensor coupled to the external midfield transmitter device,wherein the position sensor is configured to determine when the externalmidfield transmitter device moves away from the tissue interface.

Aspect 36 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 34, to optionally include or use the controlcircuit provided in the implanted midfield device, and whereindetermining whether the voiding event is, or is likely to be, imminentor occurring for the patient includes using information from theimplanted midfield device about whether it is receiving a substantiallycontinuous power signal from the external midfield transmitter device.

Aspect 37 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with anyportion or combination of any portions of any one or more of Aspects 1through 36 to include or use, subject matter that can include a garmentfor receiving and positioning an external transmitter device proximal toan implanted device. In Aspect 37, the garment can include a garmentbody comprising a flexible material configured to be worn by a user, afirst receptacle comprising a portion of the garment body and configuredto receive and position the external transmitter device near a tissueinterface when the garment is worn by the user, and a dielectric portionprovided between the first receptacle and the tissue interface toelectrically decouple contents of the first receptacle from tissue atthe tissue interface, wherein the dielectric portion has a firstrelative permittivity that is different from a relative permittivity ofthe tissue at the tissue interface.

Aspect 38 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of Aspect 37, to optionally include or use the dielectricportion comprises a compressible polychloroprene rubber having arelative permittivity that is approximately the same as the relativepermittivity of air when the polychloroprene rubber is compressed oruncompressed.

Aspect 39 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 37 or 38 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion dimensioned to separatethe first receptacle from the tissue interface by at least a specifiedminimum separation distance, the specified minimum separation distanceselected to (1) avoid exceeding a defined maximum loading on atransmission antenna of the external transmitter device and/or to (2)reduce a rate at which electromagnetic energy is absorbed by patienttissue at or near the tissue interface.

Aspect 40 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 37 through 39 tooptionally include or use the dielectric portion configured to inhibitheat transfer from the first receptacle to the tissue interface.

Aspect 41 can include or use, or can optionally be combined with thesubject matter of one or any combination of Aspects 37 through 40 tooptionally include or use the garment body comprises an elasticwaistband coupled to the first receptacle, and the waistband isconfigured to position the first receptacle at or near an S3 foramenwhen the garment is worn by the user.

Each of these non-limiting examples or aspects can stand on its own, orcan be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or moreof the other examples or aspects herein.

Although various general and specific embodiments are described herein,it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made tothese embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, the specification and drawings areto be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Theaccompanying drawings that form a part of this application show, by wayof illustration, and not of limitation, specific embodiments in whichthe subject matter can be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments can be usedor derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limitingsense, and the scope of various embodiments is defined only by theappended claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. Specific embodiments or examples are illustratedand described herein, however, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which methods,apparatuses, and systems discussed herein can be practiced. Theseembodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples caninclude elements in addition to those shown or described. However, thepresent inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elementsshown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples using any combination or permutation of thoseelements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), eitherwith respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof),or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shownor described herein.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlap,sub-ranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “atleast,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” and the like includesthe number recited. Numbers preceded by a term such as “about” or“approximately” include the recited numbers. For example, “about 10 kHz”includes “10 kHz.” Terms or phrases preceded by a term such as“substantially” or “generally” include the recited term or phrase. Forexample, “substantially parallel” includes “parallel” and “generallycylindrical” includes cylindrical.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to allowthe reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used tointerpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in theabove Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together tostreamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intendingthat an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather,inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of aparticular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments,with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it iscontemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other invarious combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention(s) andembodiments should be determined with reference to the appended claims,along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims areentitled.

1-38. (canceled)
 39. A garment for receiving and positioning an externaltransmitter device proximal to an implanted device, the garmentcomprising: garment sidewalls defining a garment body and a firstcavity; a first receptacle provided inside of the first cavity andconfigured to receive the external transmitter device; and a dielectricmember provided between the external transmitter device and a tissueinterface when the garment is worn, wherein the dielectric member has afirst relative permittivity that is approximately the same as therelative permittivity of air and the first relative permittivity isdifferent from a relative permittivity of the tissue at the tissueinterface.
 40. The garment of claim 39, wherein the dielectric member isdisposed inside the first receptacle.
 41. The garment of claim 39,further comprising a second receptacle provided inside of the firstcavity, wherein the dielectric member is disposed inside of the secondreceptacle.
 42. The garment of claim 41, wherein the first receptacle iscoupled to the second receptacle.
 43. The garment of claim 39, whereinthe first relative permittivity of the dielectric member is differentfrom a relative permittivity of the garment sidewalls.
 44. The garmentof claim 39, wherein the dielectric member is dimensioned to separatethe external transmitter device from the tissue interface by at least aspecified minimum separation distance, the specified minimum separationdistance selected to avoid exceeding a defined maximum loading on atransmission antenna of the external transmitter device.
 45. The garmentof claim 39, wherein the dielectric member is dimensioned to separatethe external transmitter device from the tissue interface by at least aspecified minimum separation distance, the specified minimum separationdistance selected to reduce a rate at which electromagnetic energy isabsorbed by patient tissue at or near the tissue interface.
 46. Thegarment of claim 39, wherein the garment body comprises an elasticwaistband coupled to the first receptacle, and the garment is configuredto position the first receptacle at or near an S3 foramen when thegarment is worn.
 47. The garment of claim 39, wherein the firstreceptacle is coupled to an outward-facing surface of the garment bodywhen the garment is worn.
 48. The garment of claim 39, wherein thedielectric member comprises a portion of a tissue-facing sidewall of thefirst receptacle.
 49. The garment of claim 39, wherein the garmentcomprises an underpants garment, and wherein the first receptacle iscoupled at a middle-rear portion of the underpants garment and in afixed location relative to a waistband and leg holes of the underpantsgarment.
 50. The garment of claim 39, wherein the first receptacle iscoupled to the garment body inside of the first cavity.
 51. A garmentfor receiving and positioning an external transmitter device proximal toan implanted device, the garment comprising: a garment body comprising aflexible material configured to be worn by a user, the garment bodyincluding a garment sidewall; a first receptacle coupled to the garmentsidewall and configured to receive and position the external transmitterdevice near a tissue interface when the garment is worn by the user; anda dielectric portion provided between the first receptacle and thetissue interface to electrically decouple contents of the firstreceptacle from tissue at the tissue interface, wherein the dielectricportion has a first relative permittivity that is different from arelative permittivity of the tissue at the tissue interface.
 52. Thegarment of claim 51, wherein the first receptacle is coupled to anoutward-facing surface of the garment sidewall when the garment is worn.53. The garment of claim 51, wherein the first relative permittivity ofthe dielectric portion is approximately the same as the relativepermittivity of air.
 54. The garment of claim 53, wherein the firstrelative permittivity of the dielectric portion is different from arelative permittivity of the garment body.
 55. The garment of claim 51,wherein the garment body comprises an underpants garment, and whereinthe first receptacle is coupled to the garment sidewall at a middle-rearportion of the underpants garment and in a fixed location relative to awaistband and leg holes of the underpants garment.
 56. The garment ofclaim 51, further comprising a second receptacle configured to receiveand position the dielectric member between the first receptacle and thetissue interface.
 57. A system comprising: an external midfieldtransmitter device with one or more structures excitable by a voltage orcurrent source to generate a propagating and focused field in tissue andthereby communicate power and/or data signals from the external midfieldtransmitter device to an implanted midfield receiver device; and awearable garment for receiving and positioning the external midfieldtransmitter device proximal to the implanted midfield receiver device,wherein the wearable garment includes: garment sidewalls defining agarment body and a first cavity; a first receptacle provided inside ofand coupled to the first cavity, wherein the first receptacle isconfigured to receive the external midfield transmitter device; and adielectric member provided between the external transmitter device and atissue interface when the garment is worn, wherein the dielectric memberhas a first relative permittivity that is approximately the same as therelative permittivity of air and the first relative permittivity isdifferent from a relative permittivity of the tissue at the tissueinterface.
 58. The system of claim 57, wherein the wearable garmentcomprises an underwear garment configured to be worn at or about thewaist of a patient, and wherein the first receptacle is configured toposition the external midfield transmitter device at a lower spineregion of the patient when the underwear garment is worn by the patient.